Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 20, 2026
06:53
Creating Virtual-hand and Virtual-face Illusions to Investigate Self-representation
Published on: March 1, 2017
13.9K
Imitation: Not in Our Genes
1All Souls College and Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 4AL, UK.
Current Biology : CB
|May 25, 2016
Summary
Newborn babies do not imitate facial gestures or sounds instinctively. This longitudinal study suggests imitation is a learned behavior, not an innate human capacity, resolving 40 years of scientific debate.
Area of Science:
- Developmental psychology
- Cognitive science
- Human infant behavior
Background:
- For decades, researchers have debated whether imitation is an inborn ability in newborns.
- Previous studies have yielded conflicting results, creating significant uncertainty in the field.
Purpose of the Study:
- To definitively investigate whether neonates possess an innate capacity for imitation.
- To resolve the long-standing debate regarding the origins of human imitation.
Main Methods:
- A powerful longitudinal study was conducted over an extended period.
- The study meticulously observed and analyzed newborn responses to various stimuli, including facial gestures, hand movements, and vocalizations.
Main Results:
- No empirical evidence was found to support the hypothesis of neonatal imitation.
- The findings consistently indicated that newborns do not imitate observed actions.
Conclusions:
- The capacity for imitation is not present at birth in humans.
- Imitation is a learned behavior that develops after birth, acquired through interaction and experience.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:13Nonconscious Mimicry
5.2K
Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.
5.2K
01:12Modeling and Similitude
706
Scaled modeling is a fundamental technique in engineering, enabling the study of large and complex systems by creating smaller, manageable replicas that recreate critical characteristics of the original. In hydrology and civil infrastructure, for example, scaled models of dams help analyze water flow, turbulence, and pressure. This method allows for accurate predictions of real-world behavior within a controlled environment, significantly reducing the cost and time involved in full-scale...
706
01:12Observational Learning
1.2K
Albert Bandura's observational learning, also known as imitation or modeling, occurs when a person observes and imitates another's behavior. It is a quicker process than operant conditioning. A well-known example is the Bobo doll study, where children who saw an adult acting aggressively towards the doll were more likely to act aggressively when left alone, compared to those who observed a nonaggressive adult. Many psychologists view observational learning as a form of latent learning...
1.2K
01:29Impression Management Techniques II: Ingratiation
219
Ingratiation refers to deliberate behaviors aimed at increasing one’s attractiveness or likability to a target person, often for strategic interpersonal or social gain. This set of impression management tactics is especially prevalent in hierarchical contexts, where influencing someone with greater power or authority can yield significant benefits. Several distinct ingratiation strategies have been identified, each leveraging psychological cues to foster favor and affiliation.Opinion...
219
02:05Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
45.1K
People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about...
45.1K
01:14Impression Management Techniques IV: Altercasting
232
Altercasting is a strategic communication technique in which an individual imposes a specific identity or social role onto another person to influence their behavior and shape the interaction. By presuming a role—such as “responsible leader” or “patient person”—altercasting encourages the target to conform to that identity, often aligning their behavior with the expectations associated with the role. The power of this tactic lies in its subtlety; once a role...
232