Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Table of Contents - 2008 - Volume 31, Issue 01  

Open Peer Commentary

Imitation and the effort of learning

Justin H. G. Williamsa1

a1 Department of Child Health, University of Aberdeen School of Medicine, Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom. Justin.williams@abdn.ac.uk http://www.abdn.ac.uk/child_health/williams.shtml

Abstract

Central to Hurley's argument is the position that imitation is “automatic” and requires inhibition. The evidence for this is poor. Imitation is intentional, involves active comparison between self and other, and involves new learning to improve self-other likeness. Abnormal imitation behaviour may result from impaired learning rather than disinhibition. Mentalizing may be similarly effortful and dependent upon learning about others.

Related Articles

    The shared circuits model (SCM): How control, mirroring, and simulation can enable imitation, deliberation, and mindreading Susan Hurley Department of Philosophy, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TB, and All Souls College, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 4AL, United Kingdom Susan.hurley@bristol.ac.uk http://eis.bris.ac.uk/~plslh/