A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Hunter-Gatherer Social Learning

Social Learning and Innovation in Contemporary Hunter-Gatherers Springer Japan Published In Pages: 19-34
By Garfield, Zachary H., Garfield, Melissa J., Hewlett, Barry S.

Hypothesis

Teaching accounts for the majority of cultural transmission among hunter gatherers across all domains (27).

Note

Teaching processes (including teaching-demonstration, teaching-storytelling, and general teaching) accounted for 58% of cases. Observation and imitation was present in 22% of cases. Stimulus and local enhancement, collaborative learning, and individual learning each occurred in 4% of cases or less. Domains of transmission included subsistence skills, religious beliefs, language, ecology, cultural values and kinship, manufacture, and miscellaneous skills. No formal statistical test.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
UNKNOWNSupportedUNKNOWNUNKNOWNUNKNOWN