"Hurley and Chater have put together the definitive collection on imitation. From mirror neurons to media violence to meme theory, you'll find it all here, cogently presented and debated. The set includes multiple chapters on mechanisms, the animal record, human development, and culture, each with a lively exchange of views and interpretations. A must-read for students of behavior, sociality, and culture."
-- William H. Durham, Bing Professor in Human Biology and Chair of Anthropological Sciences, Stanford University

Imitation is not the low-level, cognitively undemanding behavior it is often assumed to be, but rather-along with language and the ability to understand other minds-one of a trio of related capacities that are fundamental to human mentality. In these landmark volumes, leading researchers across a range of disciplines provide a state-of-the-art view of imitation, integrating the latest findings and theories with reviews of seminal work, and revealing why imitation is a topic of such intense current scientific interest. Perspectives are drawn from neuroscience and brain imaging, animal and developmental psychology, primatology, ethology, philosophy, anthropology, media studies, economics, sociology, education, and law. These volumes provide a resource that makes this research accessible across disciplines and clarifies its importance for the social sciences and philosophy as well as for the cognitive sciences. As a further aid to cross-fertilization, each volume includes extensive interdisciplinary commentary and discussion.