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Missing in action: Tool use is action based
Jeffrey J Lockman1, Catherine S Tamis-LeMonda2, Karen E Adolph3
1Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA70115lockman@tulane.eduhttps://childdevelopment.tulane.edu/.
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|August 11, 2020
Summary
Action is crucial for understanding human technological culture and tool use. An action-based developmental approach can bridge gaps in explaining how humans discover, create, and share tools.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Developmental Psychology
- Anthropology
Background:
- The ascendance of human technological culture is a complex phenomenon.
- Existing accounts often focus on cognitive or sociocultural factors, potentially overlooking key elements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critique the omission of action in existing models of human technological culture.
- To propose an action-based developmental framework for understanding tool use.
Main Methods:
- Commentary on existing literature (Osiurak and Reynaud's target article).
- Theoretical proposal of an action-based developmental account.
Main Results:
- Existing accounts of technological culture are incomplete due to a lack of focus on action.
- An action-based perspective offers a more integrated explanation for tool discovery, production, and transmission.
Conclusions:
- Action is a fundamental driver in the evolution of human technology.
- Integrating action into developmental and sociocultural frameworks is essential for a comprehensive understanding of human tool use.
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