At the same time, children are strikingly unselective about what they imitate—another way in which our practice of imitation departs from that of animals. Humans are “high-fidelity” copiers: our young imitate adults to the letter, while other animals will make do with a slapdash approximation. This difference can make apes, monkeys, and even dogs look like the smarter species. Shown a procedure with an extra, unnecessary step—like touching a box with one’s forehead before prying it open and retrieving the treat inside—chimps and canines will skip the superfluous move to go right for the goods.
...more
