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Social learning mechanisms compared in a simple environment

Social learning mechanisms compared in a simple environment
Social learning mechanisms compared in a simple environment
Social learning can be adaptive, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. Many researchers have focused on imitation but this may have led to simpler mechanisms being underestimated. We demonstrate in simulation that imitative learning is not always the best strategy for a group-living animal, and that the effectiveness of any such strategy will depend on details of the environment and the animal's lifestyle. We show that observations of behavioural convergence or "traditions" might suggest effective social learning, but are meaningless considered alone.
379-385
MIT Press
Noble, J.
440f07ba-dbb8-4d66-b969-36cde4e3b764
Franks, D. W.
17cbd58d-8700-48e2-9a5d-f597f9cbdca0
Standish, R. K.
Bedau, M. A.
Abbass, H. A.
Noble, J.
440f07ba-dbb8-4d66-b969-36cde4e3b764
Franks, D. W.
17cbd58d-8700-48e2-9a5d-f597f9cbdca0
Standish, R. K.
Bedau, M. A.
Abbass, H. A.

Noble, J. and Franks, D. W. (2002) Social learning mechanisms compared in a simple environment. Standish, R. K., Bedau, M. A. and Abbass, H. A. (eds.) In Artificial Life VIII: Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Artificial Life. MIT Press. pp. 379-385 .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

Social learning can be adaptive, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. Many researchers have focused on imitation but this may have led to simpler mechanisms being underestimated. We demonstrate in simulation that imitative learning is not always the best strategy for a group-living animal, and that the effectiveness of any such strategy will depend on details of the environment and the animal's lifestyle. We show that observations of behavioural convergence or "traditions" might suggest effective social learning, but are meaningless considered alone.

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Published date: 2002
Organisations: Agents, Interactions & Complexity

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Local EPrints ID: 265254
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/265254
PURE UUID: b74383b2-a939-4fc5-8750-f2534bf5bbd5

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Date deposited: 03 Mar 2008 23:45
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 08:05

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Contributors

Author: J. Noble
Author: D. W. Franks
Editor: R. K. Standish
Editor: M. A. Bedau
Editor: H. A. Abbass

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