Feb 16, 2020 12:00:00

The key to human prosperity may be `` the ability to imitate others without thinking '' instead of innovative thinking power

Humans have a population of more than 7 billion people on earth, making them the most prosperous mammals on earth. It is widely accepted that humans thrive because they have high intelligence to think about the problems they face, but in recent years some cognitive scientists and anthropologists have said, Because he had the power to imitate others without thinking about anything, 'said

Conner Wood , a visiting researcher at Boston University.

Being copycats might be key to being human
https://theconversation.com/being-copycats-might-be-key-to-being-human-121932

Although humans are not genetically much different from chimpanzees and are not physically superior to other animals, while the population of chimpanzees is less than 300,000 , humans are 70 It boasts more than 100 million individuals. A widely accepted reason for human prosperity is that 'humans have higher intelligence than conventional animals, solve problems unique to various regions by thinking, and spread all over the world. '

'While many cognitive scientists and anthropologists have denied this in recent years,' Wood said, saying that human prosperity was attributed to high thinking. These scientists believe that instead of explaining with high intelligence of human beings, 'by carefully copying the actions of others, they have dealt with difficult climate and ecological situations.'

In a 2005

study , the research team showed a three- to four-year-old child and a chimpanzee a mechanical box with a treat. There were two types of boxes, one was transparent and the internal mechanism was seen through, and the other was opaque and the internal mechanism was not visible.

The research team then showed the children and the chimpanzee how to open the box and remove the snack. However, it was said that this procedure included a procedure called 'hitting the box with a stick', which is not actually necessary to open the box.

The children and the chimpanzee succeeded in removing the snack from the box, respectively, mimicking the procedure shown by the research team, but the children carefully mimicked the procedure `` hitting the box with a stick '' that is not actually necessary It seems he did. Aside from the opaque box, it was clear that the stick did not help in the transparent box, but children still copied the procedure `` irrationally '' witnessed, Wood said. Points out. A 2005 study included only children between the ages of three and four, but a later study found that older children and adults are more likely to 'over-mimic their behavior.' Was shown.

On the other hand, the chimpanzee skipped this step and opened the box if it was clear that the box was clear and the 'hitting the box with a stick' procedure was not actually necessary. The results were similar in a 2009 study , says Wood, 'chimpanzees are more rational than human children and adults when it comes to copying behavior.' However, Wood believes that seemingly irrational 'excessive imitation of humans' had important implications for human prosperity.

by

Bald Wonder

Joseph Henrick , an American anthropologist, points out in `` The Secret of Our Success '' that `` people all over the world rely on complicated technologies that can not be reasonably learned '' . Instead, he said that he had to gradually acquire the necessary knowledge and trust the wisdom of the more experienced elders and peers.

For example, the easiest way to learn how to handle a bow and arrow is to observe the movements of a skilled hunter and imitate all actions. For inexperienced learners, it is difficult to determine which is necessary and which is not necessary in the hunter's procedure, so it is necessary to completely copy the number of fingers sandwiching the strings and the little gestures when pulling arrows there is.

Wood argues that `` the tendency to imitate the human overkill allows the inheritance and development of the long-term skills that anthropologists call the 'cumulative culture' across generations. '' . No one can understand all the steps humans need to live, such as how to handle bows and arrows, how to make canoes, and ultimately make iPhone from scarce minerals. However, by copying someone's actions with high reproducibility, it seems that humans were able to convey technology.

Wood also points out that the tendency to over-mimicry is important in rituals that are passed on to religions and communities where many do the same thing. Participating in a particular ceremony is a very clear criterion for determining whether a person is part of a community, so the ceremony strengthens cohesion within the community and enhances cultural belonging It is effective.

Wood said he was 'not a brave and independent innovator,' but said he was very good at imitating others. He argued that excessive imitation was the key to learning complex cultural skills, and also to establishing social connections through rituals and the like.