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Demonstration and Pantomime in the Evolution of Teaching.
1Cognitive Science, Lund UniversityLund, Sweden; Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies, Wallenberg Research CentreStellenbosch, South Africa.
Frontiers in Psychology
|April 7, 2017
Summary
Early Homo sapiens developed mimesis, a new cognitive ability, to enhance teaching through demonstration and pantomime. This study explores how these skills, particularly pantomime, aided in transmitting Oldowan technology and potentially influenced language evolution.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Anthropology
- Cognitive Science
- Archaeology
Background:
- Donald's mimesis hypothesis suggests early Homo evolved unique cognitive abilities.
- Hominin teaching is distinguished by demonstration and pantomime, unlike other animals.
- Understanding these capacities is crucial for tracing cognitive and linguistic evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mimesis hypothesis in the context of hominin teaching evolution.
- To analyze the instructional and communicative functions of demonstration and pantomime.
- To explore the role of pantomime in the evolution of language.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of demonstration and pantomime functions.
- Summarization of archaeological evidence for Oldowan technology transmission.
- Development of a cognitive model for pantomime based on movement force patterns.
Main Results:
- Demonstration was key in transmitting Oldowan technology.
- Pantomime evolved from demonstration, primarily for motor skill learning.
- The meaning of pantomime is rooted in movement force patterns.
Conclusions:
- Mimesis, particularly pantomime, played a significant role in hominin cognitive evolution and teaching.
- Pantomime's primary function was skill transmission, with communication being secondary.
- The cognitive mechanisms of pantomime offer insights into early language evolution.