Open Peer Commentary Byrne & Russon: Learning by imitation
No imitation without identification
Frans B. M. de Waal a1 a1 Living Links Center, Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center and Psychology Department, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329
dewaal@rmy.emory.edu
Abstract
We cannot solve questions about imitative learning without
knowing what motivates animals to copy others. Imitative capacities
can be expected to be most pronounced in relation to situations and
models of great social significance. Experimental research on nonhuman primates has thus far made little effort to present such situations
and models.
