Subbu left a comment on my previous post pointing at new research that suggests that an evolutionary adaptation to subtly imitate promotes the formation of social groups and so reduces conflict, aids co-operation and ultimately, survival.
The author of the study Annika Paukner, a comparative behaviorist at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, makes an interesting point:
"In the past, we looked at imitation as 'What did [the imitator] learn?' But the role of the model has been largely ignored…Turns out, imitation is not just good for learning something new. It's also beneficial for the whole group—or whole species."
Interesting parallel to be had with communications, in considering the focus often placed on the individual recipient rather than the group dynamic of how ideas spread.
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