Play and Social Learning

Synonyms

Learning; Observation; Performance; Practice; Recreation

Definition

Observing others leads to recreational mimicry of witnessed behaviors; this mimicry (i.e., play) is a form of practice that allows children to develop a greater understanding of social norms, societal rules, and how these norms and rules influence social behavior.

Introduction

Social learning and play are of the utmost importance in the development of individuals, not only along the extent of a single lifespan but also for the development and evolution of a species. Social learning is imperative for transmitting information from one generation to the next. Play is vital for the practice and development of new methods for a species to grow and advance.

Development Through Social Learning

Social learning can be thought of as a way to transfer information, not through genetic inheritance, but rather from a learning process that comes from observing behavior of other individuals (Mesoudi and Whiten, 2004). In his...