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Abstract

Human children, in contrast to other species, are frequently cast as prolific
“over- imitators”. However, previous studies of “over- imitation” have overlooked many
important real- world social dynamics, and may thus provide an inaccurate account of
this seemingly puzzling and potentially maladaptive phenomenon. Here we investigate
this topic using a cultural evolutionary approach, focusing particularly on the key
adaptive learning strategy of majority- biased copying. Most “over- imitation” research
has been conducted using consistent demonstrations to the observer, but we
systematically varied the frequency of demonstrators that 4- to 6- year- old children
observed performing a causally irrelevant action. Children who “over- imitate” inflexibly
should copy the majority regardless of whether the majority solution omits or includes
a causally irrelevant action. However, we found that children calibrated their tendency
to acquire the majority behavior, such that copying did not extend to majorities that
performed irrelevant actions. These results are consistent with a highly functional,
adaptive integration of social and causal information, rather than explanations implying
unselective copying or causal misunderstanding. This suggests that our species might
be better characterized as broadly “optimal- ” rather than“over-” imitators.