WRT mimetic learning, I'd suggest that it isn't just humans who learn by mimicry. Certainly, many of the old world primates do too, and without any background in the subject, but being a true-believer in evolution and the behavioral and emotional tendencies evolution creates, I'd wager that learning by mimicry is very widespread in mammals, at least.
I would suggest that the young of many species learn best through immitation and repetition.
My point is that imitation/mimicry have been powerfully selected for by evolution for millions of years for several reasons.
I think that this "mimicry" tendency breeds a personal need to "belong" and that almost certainly leads to "conformity."
(I've greatly oversimplified this by omitting any mention of the opposite drive for "individuality.")
Something worth thinking about: In what fields is it especially important to learn from close observation of people who are excellent in the field...versus fields which can be learned from study and personal work?
I was inspired and even started rewatching X Files! I never did watch a lot of it during its time. Think I'm more appreciative now of the subject matter , from a human nature / psychological point of view.
I was inspired by having paper dolls and reading magazines combined, to create my own clothing designs for the dolls. I spent hours in a state of pure fun with crayons and later colored pencils.
I certainly played at home, teaching make believe classrooms, after being in a kindergarten schoolroom.
Remember some yearning to do or have this or that as young girl reading stories, but moreso as I read more mature subject matter . That really set the dreamscape up several years forward! :)
Furtively propping a novel over my school text , I was finally able in 5th grade to sit in back of the room . Short stature earlier in Boston school years meant being seated up front. :)
I would travel around the world in and out of grown up people's lives and stories, with great anticipation.
Who knows, perhaps the earlier paper clothing design thrills carried forward into my adult enjoyment.
FIrst creating ways to do part time office tasks after school, later into my own home design and ultimately into entrpreneurial business management and systems design careers.
This whole subject of human nature to copy also really reminds me of how long it took me to finally understand that my being copied by others, was actually a compliment!
Not totally a new thing, of course: how many young men have volunteered for the military after hearing heroic tales 500 or 1000 years ago or, more recently, seeing them on a movie screen or television?
But technology has made the effect stronger, for sure. Video games may well play a part in this.
Very provocative. Again.
WRT mimetic learning, I'd suggest that it isn't just humans who learn by mimicry. Certainly, many of the old world primates do too, and without any background in the subject, but being a true-believer in evolution and the behavioral and emotional tendencies evolution creates, I'd wager that learning by mimicry is very widespread in mammals, at least.
I would suggest that the young of many species learn best through immitation and repetition.
My point is that imitation/mimicry have been powerfully selected for by evolution for millions of years for several reasons.
I think that this "mimicry" tendency breeds a personal need to "belong" and that almost certainly leads to "conformity."
(I've greatly oversimplified this by omitting any mention of the opposite drive for "individuality.")
Absolutely! Fun study here on mirror neurons -- short version is they have been found in new world monkeys, old world monkeys, marmosets (common ancestor), and ... songbirds! https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2015.00459/full#:~:text=Mirror%20neurons%20respond%20when%20executing,macaques%2C%20humans%2C%20and%20songbirds.
It's provocative to realize the power of thinking more widely about possibilities that seemed beyond reach. Young women's interest in archery remains strong well after the enthusiasm of the Hunger Games . https://www.usarchery.org/article/usa-archery-celebrates-female-archers-on-international-women-s-day
That is awesome to learn! Wonder if the same will prove to be true about chess....
Linked Story Rules Project at my new post: Stories and Society
https://chicagoboyz.net/archives/70061.html
Thank you so very much! Great post with much to chew on.
Something worth thinking about: In what fields is it especially important to learn from close observation of people who are excellent in the field...versus fields which can be learned from study and personal work?
Mimesis , new word for me. :)
Great as always to learn.
I was inspired and even started rewatching X Files! I never did watch a lot of it during its time. Think I'm more appreciative now of the subject matter , from a human nature / psychological point of view.
I was inspired by having paper dolls and reading magazines combined, to create my own clothing designs for the dolls. I spent hours in a state of pure fun with crayons and later colored pencils.
I certainly played at home, teaching make believe classrooms, after being in a kindergarten schoolroom.
Remember some yearning to do or have this or that as young girl reading stories, but moreso as I read more mature subject matter . That really set the dreamscape up several years forward! :)
Furtively propping a novel over my school text , I was finally able in 5th grade to sit in back of the room . Short stature earlier in Boston school years meant being seated up front. :)
I would travel around the world in and out of grown up people's lives and stories, with great anticipation.
Who knows, perhaps the earlier paper clothing design thrills carried forward into my adult enjoyment.
FIrst creating ways to do part time office tasks after school, later into my own home design and ultimately into entrpreneurial business management and systems design careers.
This whole subject of human nature to copy also really reminds me of how long it took me to finally understand that my being copied by others, was actually a compliment!
Love these memories. I still want a bibliography of all the books you secretly read in the back of the classroom!!
Not totally a new thing, of course: how many young men have volunteered for the military after hearing heroic tales 500 or 1000 years ago or, more recently, seeing them on a movie screen or television?
But technology has made the effect stronger, for sure. Video games may well play a part in this.
Absolutely. And it works in a negative way, too....