Author:
Davis Sarah,Rawlings Bruce,Clegg Jennifer M.,Ikejimba Daniel,Watson-Jones Rachel E.,Whiten Andrew,Legare Cristine H.
Abstract
AbstractThe scale of cumulative cultural evolution (CCE) is a defining characteristic of humans. Despite marked scientific interest in CCE, the cognitive underpinnings supporting its development remain understudied. We examined the role cognitive flexibility plays in CCE by studying U.S. children’s (N = 167, 3–5-year-olds) propensity to relinquish an inefficient solution to a problem in favor of a more efficient alternative, and whether they would resist reverting to earlier versions. In contrast to previous work with chimpanzees, most children who first learned to solve a puzzlebox in an inefficient way switched to an observed, more efficient alternative. However, over multiple task interactions, 85% of children who switched reverted to the inefficient method. Moreover, almost all children in a control condition (who first learned the efficient method) switched to the inefficient method. Thus, children were keen to explore an alternative solution but, like chimpanzees, are overall conservative in reverting to their first-learned one.
Funder
John Templeton Foundation
National Science Foundation
Templeton World Charity Foundation
Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Cited by
4 articles.
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