Pathways of Learning
Social learning: Also called ‘transmission’, this is an
umbrella term that includes includes transfer of skills, concepts, rules
and strategies that occur in social contexts and can affect individual
behavior. These include:
Social facilitation: An animal has an increased probability of
performing a behavior in the presence of a conspecific.
Local enhancement : An individual’s interest in an object or
location is mediated by the interest or movement of others.
Imitation : Novel copying of a model behavior through observation
that results in a reliably similar outcome.
Cultural transmission: Social transmission leading to the
development of traditions that are passed down from generation to
generation.
Vertical versus horizontal learning: Sometimes referred to as
parent versus peer learning, this dichotomy characterizes the
generational source of social information.
Information center: Particular locations or events that provide
opportunity for information exchange. For example, a community roost may
enable individuals to follow well-fed peers to new foraging locations.
Direct information exchange: An animal is provided
sender-based, actively communicated information by another individual.
For example, honeybees tell their sisters the locations of rewarding
flowers.