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Cultural transmission of behavior in animals: How a modern training technology uses spontaneous social imitation in cetaceans and facilitates social imitation in horses and dogs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2001

Karen W. Pryor
Affiliation:
The Pryor Foundation, Watertown, MA 02472 karenpryor@rcn.com www.clickertraining.com

Abstract

Social learning and imitation is central to culture in cetaceans. The training technology used with cetaceans facilitates reinforcing imitation of one dolphin's behavior by another; the same technology, now widely used by pet owners, can lead to imitative learning in such unlikely species as dogs and horses. A capacity for imitation, and thus for cultural learning, may exist in many species.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
© 2001 Cambridge University Press

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