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Imitation of Peers in Children and Adults

Author

Listed:
  • Jose Apesteguia

    (ICREA, Universitat Pompeu Fabra and Barcelona GSE, 08005 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Steffen Huck

    (WZB Berlin Social Science Center, 10785 Berlin, Germany
    Department of Economics, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK)

  • Jörg Oechssler

    (Department of Economics, University of Heidelberg, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Elke Weidenholzer

    (Department of Economics, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK)

  • Simon Weidenholzer

    (Department of Economics, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK)

Abstract

Imitation of the successful choices of others is a simple and superficially attractive learning rule. It has been shown to be an important driving force for the strategic behavior of (young) adults. In this study we examine whether imitation is prevalent in the behavior of children aged between 8 and 10. Surprisingly, we find that imitation seems to be cognitively demanding. Most children in this age group ignore information about others, foregoing substantial learning opportunities. While this seems to contradict much of the literature in the field of psychology, we argue that success-based imitation of peers may be harder for children to perform than non-success-based imitation of adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Jose Apesteguia & Steffen Huck & Jörg Oechssler & Elke Weidenholzer & Simon Weidenholzer, 2018. "Imitation of Peers in Children and Adults," Games, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jgames:v:9:y:2018:i:1:p:11-:d:134084
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Apesteguia, Jose & Huck, Steffen & Oechssler, Jorg, 2007. "Imitation--theory and experimental evidence," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 136(1), pages 217-235, September.
    2. Matthias Sutter & Martin G. Kocher & Daniela Glätzle-Rützler & Stefan T. Trautmann, 2013. "Impatience and Uncertainty: Experimental Decisions Predict Adolescents' Field Behavior," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(1), pages 510-531, February.
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    4. Alós-Ferrer, Carlos & Weidenholzer, Simon, 2014. "Imitation and the role of information in overcoming coordination failures," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 397-411.
    5. György Gergely & Harold Bekkering & Ildikó Király, 2002. "Rational imitation in preverbal infants," Nature, Nature, vol. 415(6873), pages 755-755, February.
    6. Harbaugh, William T. & Krause, Kate & Vesterlund, Lise, 2007. "Learning to bargain," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 127-142, January.
    7. Ernst Fehr & Helen Bernhard & Bettina Rockenbach, 2008. "Egalitarianism in young children," Nature, Nature, vol. 454(7208), pages 1079-1083, August.
    8. Huck, Steffen & Normann, Hans-Theo & Oechssler, Jorg, 1999. "Learning in Cournot Oligopoly--An Experiment," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 109(454), pages 80-95, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sutter, Matthias & Zoller, Claudia & Glätzle-Rützler, Daniela, 2019. "Economic behavior of children and adolescents – A first survey of experimental economics results," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 98-121.
    2. Mikhail Freer & Daniel Friedman & Simon Weidenholzer, 2023. "Motives for Delegating Financial Decisions," Papers 2309.03419, arXiv.org, revised Apr 2024.
    3. Tymula, Agnieszka & Wang, Xueting, 2021. "Increased risk-taking, not loss tolerance, drives adolescents’ propensity to choose risky prospects more often under peer observation," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 439-457.

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