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Social Learning and Innovation in Contemporary Hunter-Gatherers pp 243–249Cite as

Learning in Collaborative Action: Through the Artworks of Baka Pygmy Children

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Part of the book series: Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans Series ((RNMH))

Abstract

The psychological meaning of art, understood in terms of developmental and cognitive psychology frameworks, and aspects of social learning among Baka children in the context of collaboration are discussed. Teaching and learning behaviors in various developmental stages were observed as Baka children collaborated in the production of art. Gender differences were also noted. The representational function of art, joint attention, imitation, teasing, group dynamics of innovation and conformity, and Bakhtin’s notions of mastery and appropriation are all discussed with reference to the behavior Baka children exhibited in these small groups.

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Acknowledgments

This research was subsidized by the “Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas 2010–2014.” The project leader is Takeru Akazawa, PhD, “Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans: Testing Evolutionary Models of Learning.” I appreciate the members of our Research Team A02 in the RNMH project, “A Study of Human Learning Behavior Based on Fieldwork Among Hunter-Gatherers” (Team leader, Hideaki Terashima), for supporting my research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Kobe, Japan

    Eiko Yamagami

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  1. Eiko Yamagami
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Correspondence to Eiko Yamagami .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Kobe, Japan

    Hideaki Terashima

  2. Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Vancouver, WA, USA

    Barry S. Hewlett

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Yamagami, E. (2016). Learning in Collaborative Action: Through the Artworks of Baka Pygmy Children. In: Terashima, H., Hewlett, B.S. (eds) Social Learning and Innovation in Contemporary Hunter-Gatherers. Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans Series. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55997-9_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55997-9_21

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-55995-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-55997-9

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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