title: A cross-cultural comparison of children's imitative flexibility.
abstract: Recent research with Western populations has demonstrated that children use imitation flexibly to engage in both instrumental and conventional learning. Evidence for children's imitative flexibility in non-Western populations is limited, however, and has only assessed imitation of instrumental tasks. This study (N = 142, 6- to 8-year-olds) demonstrates both cultural continuity and cultural variation in imitative flexibility. Children engage in higher imitative fidelity for conventional tasks than for instrumental tasks in both an industrialized, Western culture (United States), and a subsistence-based, non-Western culture (Vanuatu). Children in Vanuatu engage in higher imitative fidelity of instrumental tasks than in the United States, a potential consequence of cultural variation in child socialization for conformity. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors: Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin.
authors: Jennifer M
authors: 0000-0001-5655-9899
authors: JM
authors: Clegg
authors: Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin.
authors: Cristine H
authors: CH
authors: Legare
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D007858:Learning; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011581:Psychological Tests; D002666:Psychology, Child; D014481:United States; D009514:Vanuatu