SOCIAL TRANSMISSION AMONG NONHUMAN-PRIMAT ES

Social transmission could occur within the same generation (intra-gene ration transmission) or between successive generations (inter-generati ons transmission : from the mother to the offspring). Observational le arning is the main mechanism involved for social transmission to occur . Many authors assume that imitation does exist in non-human primates, because they consider that observational and imitation learning refer to the same process. But, others consider that observational learning may be due either to local enhancement or to imitation. Local enhance ment could probably explain inter-generation transmission, while intra -generation transmission could be due to imitation. Nevertheless, it h as to be stressed that recent studies have shown that true imitation h as probably been overestimate in non-human primates. Moreover, it seem s that imitation does exist in new-born human infants; it could be pos sible that it is specifically a human cognitive ability. Finally, the problem of species-specific mental abilities in primates is discussed. It may be concluded that inter- and intra-generation transmissions ha ve been involved in the cultural evolution of both non-human primates and of Homo.