The study investigates how children encode tool use by observing a model, focusing on the influence of social and task elements. It reveals that children tend to overimitate, especially when conventional language is used, indicating a strong bias towards social conformity. In a speeded trial, children were less likely to select inefficient tools compared to an initial trial, highlighting the role of urgency in decision-making. The results also raise questions about potential impacts of COVID-19 on children's imitation patterns, particularly between those learning conventionality versus instrumental actions.
Across diverse human cultures, children show an innate tendency to adhere to conventions and conventional language from an early age, leading to behaviors like overimitation.
The study aimed to determine if children encode a model's inefficient tool as appropriate for a task or if this was driven by social imitation.
Results indicate that children were significantly more likely to select an inefficient tool initially rather than in a more time-pressured environment, suggesting a complex interplay of social and task-oriented influences.
Interestingly, the findings also suggest that the impact of COVID-19 may have influenced differences between conventional and instrumental groups in children's behavior.
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