Syndetics cover image
Image from Syndetics

Becoming human : a theory of ontogeny / Michael Tomasello.

By: Language: English Publisher: Cambridge, Massachusetts : The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2019Description: 379 pages illustrations 24 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9780674980853
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 155 23/swe
LOC classification:
  • BF713
Other classification:
  • Dof
Contents:
I. Background: In search of human uniqueness -- Evolutionary foundations -- II. The ontogeny of uniquely human cognition: Social cognition -- Communication -- Cultural learning -- Cooperative thinking -- III. The ontogeny of uniquely human sociality: Collaboration -- Prosociality -- Social norms -- Moral identity -- IV. Conclusion: A neo-Vygotskian theory of human ontogeny -- The power of shared agency.
Summary: Virtually all theories of how humans have become such a distinctive species focus on evolution. Here, Michael Tomasello proposes a complementary theory of human uniqueness, focused on ontogenetic processes. His data-driven model explains how those things that make us most human are constructed during the first years of a child's life. Tomasello assembles nearly three decades of experimental work with chimpanzees, bonobos, and human children to propose a new framework for psychological development between birth and seven years of age. He identifies eight pathways that starkly differentiate humans from their closest primate relatives: social cognition, communication, cultural learning, cooperative thinking, collaboration, prosociality, social norms, and moral identity. In each of these, great apes possess rudimentary abilities. But then, Tomasello argues, the maturation of humans' evolved capacities for shared intentionality transform these abilities into uniquely human cognition and sociality. The first step occurs around nine months, with the emergence of joint intentionality, exercised mostly with caregiving adults. The second step occurs around three years, with the emergence of collective intentionality involving both authoritative adults, who convey cultural knowledge, and coequal peers, who elicit collaboration and communication. Finally, by age six or seven, children become responsible for self-regulating their beliefs and actions so that they comport with cultural norms. Built on the essential ideas of Lev Vygotsky, Becoming Human places human sociocultural activity within the framework of modern evolutionary theory, and shows how biology creates the conditions under which culture does its work.-- Provided by publisher
Holdings
Cover image Item type Current library Home library Collection Shelving location Call number Materials specified Vol info URL Copy number Status Notes Date due Barcode Item holds Item hold queue priority Course reserves
Book Biblioteket HKR Biblioteket 155 Tomasello Available 11156000189968
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A radical reconsideration of how we develop the qualities that make us human, based on decades of cutting-edge experimental work by the former director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

Virtually all theories of how humans have become such a distinctive species focus on evolution. Here, Michael Tomasello proposes a complementary theory of human uniqueness, focused on development. Building on the seminal ideas of Vygotsky, his data-driven model explains how those things that make us most human are constructed during the first years of a child's life.

Tomasello assembles nearly three decades of experimental work with chimpanzees, bonobos, and human children to propose a new framework for psychological growth between birth and seven years of age. He identifies eight pathways that starkly differentiate humans from their closest primate relatives: social cognition, communication, cultural learning, cooperative thinking, collaboration, prosociality, social norms, and moral identity. In each of these, great apes possess rudimentary abilities. But then, Tomasello argues, the maturation of humans' evolved capacities for shared intentionality transform these abilities-through the new forms of sociocultural interaction they enable-into uniquely human cognition and sociality. The first step occurs around nine months, with the emergence of joint intentionality, exercised mostly with caregiving adults. The second step occurs around three years, with the emergence of collective intentionality involving both authoritative adults, who convey cultural knowledge, and coequal peers, who elicit collaboration and communication. Finally, by age six or seven, children become responsible for self-regulating their beliefs and actions so that they comport with cultural norms.

Becoming Human places human sociocultural activity within the framework of modern evolutionary theory, and shows how biology creates the conditions under which culture does its work.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

I. Background: In search of human uniqueness -- Evolutionary foundations -- II. The ontogeny of uniquely human cognition: Social cognition -- Communication -- Cultural learning -- Cooperative thinking -- III. The ontogeny of uniquely human sociality: Collaboration -- Prosociality -- Social norms -- Moral identity -- IV. Conclusion: A neo-Vygotskian theory of human ontogeny -- The power of shared agency.

Virtually all theories of how humans have become such a distinctive species focus on evolution. Here, Michael Tomasello proposes a complementary theory of human uniqueness, focused on ontogenetic processes. His data-driven model explains how those things that make us most human are constructed during the first years of a child's life. Tomasello assembles nearly three decades of experimental work with chimpanzees, bonobos, and human children to propose a new framework for psychological development between birth and seven years of age. He identifies eight pathways that starkly differentiate humans from their closest primate relatives: social cognition, communication, cultural learning, cooperative thinking, collaboration, prosociality, social norms, and moral identity. In each of these, great apes possess rudimentary abilities. But then, Tomasello argues, the maturation of humans' evolved capacities for shared intentionality transform these abilities into uniquely human cognition and sociality. The first step occurs around nine months, with the emergence of joint intentionality, exercised mostly with caregiving adults. The second step occurs around three years, with the emergence of collective intentionality involving both authoritative adults, who convey cultural knowledge, and coequal peers, who elicit collaboration and communication. Finally, by age six or seven, children become responsible for self-regulating their beliefs and actions so that they comport with cultural norms. Built on the essential ideas of Lev Vygotsky, Becoming Human places human sociocultural activity within the framework of modern evolutionary theory, and shows how biology creates the conditions under which culture does its work.-- Provided by publisher

Imported from: lx2.loc.gov:210/LCDB (Do not remove)

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

  • Preface(p. ix)
  • I Background
  • Chapter 1 In Search of Human Uniqueness(p. 3)
  • Chapter 2 Evolutionary Foundations(p. 10)
  • Human Evolution(p. 11)
  • Human Ontogeny(p. 22)
  • Explanation in Developmental Psychology(p. 32)
  • II The Ontogeny Of Uniquely Human Cognition
  • Chapter 3 Social Cognition(p. 45)
  • From Apes: Imagining What Others Perceive(p. 46)
  • Joint Attention(p. 53)
  • The Coordination of Perspectives(p. 64)
  • Becoming "Objective"(p. 82)
  • Chapter 4 Communication(p. 91)
  • From Apes: Intentional Communication(p. 93)
  • Cooperative Communication(p. 98)
  • Conventional Communication(p. 112)
  • Becoming Symbolic(p. 127)
  • Chapter 5 Cultural Learning(p. 134)
  • From Apes: Social Learning(p. 135)
  • Imitation and Conformity(p. 141)
  • Instructed Learning(p. 147)
  • Becoming Knowledgeable(p. 155)
  • Chapter 6 Cooperative Thinking(p. 161)
  • From Apes: Individual Thinking(p. 162)
  • Collaborative Reasoning(p. 166)
  • Coordinated Decision-Making(p. 174)
  • Becoming Reasonable(p. 183)
  • III The Ontogeny Of Uniquely Human Sociality
  • Chapter 7 Collaboration(p. 191)
  • From Apes: Acting in Parallel with Others(p. 193)
  • Dual-Level Collaboration(p. 195)
  • Joint Commitment(p. 204)
  • Becoming Second-Personal(p. 211)
  • Chapter 8 Prosociality(p. 219)
  • From Apes: Basic Sympathy(p. 220)
  • Smirtuan Helping and Sharing(p. 225)
  • Fairness(p. 232)
  • Becoming Cooperative(p. 242)
  • Chapter 9 Social Norms(p. 249)
  • From Apes: Group Life(p. 251)
  • Social Norms(p. 254)
  • Justice(p. 262)
  • Becoming Group-Minded(p. 269)
  • Chapter 10 Moral Identity(p. 275)
  • From Apes: Social Evaluation(p. 276)
  • Self-Presentation and Self-Conscious Emotions(p. 278)
  • Moral Justification and Identity(p. 285)
  • Becoming Responsible(p. 291)
  • IV Conclusion
  • Chapter 11 A Neo-Vygotskian Theory(p. 297)
  • Global Theories of Human Ontogeny(p. 298)
  • Shared Intentionality Theory(p. 304)
  • Problems and Prospects(p. 334)
  • Chapter 12 The Power of Shared Agency(p. 340)
  • References(p. 345)
  • Index(p. 373)