Publications [#351888] of Michael Tomasello

Journal Articles

1. Tomasello, M; Carpenter, M; Call, J; Behne, T; Moll, H (2005). In search of the uniquely human. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 28(5), 721-727. [doi]
   (last updated on 2025/05/12)

   Abstract:
   As Bruner so eloquently points out, and Gauvain echoes, human beings are unique in their "locality." Individual groups of humans develop their own unique ways of symbolizing and doing things - and these can be very different from the ways of other groups, even those living quite nearby. Our attempt in the target article was to propose a theory of the social-cognitive and social-motivational bases of humans' ability and propensity to live in this local, that is, this cultural, way - which no other species does - focusing on such things as the ability to collaborate and to create shared material and symbolic artifacts. © 2005 Cambridge University Press.