
4
The Beer Can Theory of Creativity
4.3.3
Evidence from Animal Behavior
Experimental research indicates that imitation (and related phenomena such as
emulation, response facilitation, etc.) is widespread in the animal kingdom.
It has been documented in budgerigars (Galef et al. 1986), quail (Akins and
Zentall 1998), cowbirds (King and West 1989), rats (Heyes and Dawson 1990;
Heyes, Dawson, and Nokes 1992), monkeys (Beck 1976; Hauser 1988; Nishida
1986; Westergaard 1988), orangutans (Russon and Galdikas 1993) and chimpan-
zees (Goodall 1986; Mignault 1965; Sumita, Kitaham-Frisch, and Norikoshi 1985; ...