What could, the performing of actions (mostly by illiterate persons) out of copying or simply because others do it, (like f.e. i've seen totally illiterate young mothers apply talcum powder after changing a baby's diaper, without having the slightest clue or knowledge -or any curiosity for that matter-,why they do it), be called?
2006-07-02 23:55:47 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Anthropology
The example i gave was meant as an EXAMPLE. I am asking about an Anthropology term (and those mostly sound Uppety or Superior-wannabe). This is not my fault. Do not take it so personal!
2006-07-03 00:21:05 · update #1
It's called 'The Correspondence Problem', which is the mapping action sequences of the demonstrator and the imitator agent.
2006-07-03 00:06:52 · answer #1 · answered by sunshine25 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Wow, aren't you judgmental and superior?
Just because someone is illiterate, that doesn't mean they are stupid. It's just possible that the "totally illiterate young mothers" you have seen applying talcum powder have enough life experience to know that it helps prevent diaper rash. It's highly likely that they have far more knowledge about diaper rash than you do, first hand.
And don't think that doing something because you have been advised by someone else to do it makes you stupid. It doesn't. They may have paid some attention in their parenting class -- which many of them are forced to take by welfare authorities. Who knows, they may even have passed.
2006-07-03 00:04:29 · answer #2 · answered by P. M 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You might call it with more fancy words but I agree with "forbidden planet" and "Karen W" it's simply called imitation. I wouldn't get as mad as "PM" but I do think your question comes out of prejudice. We all imitate one another, it's not something that only "limited" people do. If you stop to think for a moment, you will notice things never seen before: children wash their teeth, spit, laugh, smile even sneeze in a similar way than their parents. No, it is not inherited behavior, it is learned behavior. If you solve this level you can start looking at nationalities. Even racially related people like Canadians and Americans distinguish themselves through imitating each other and rejecting attitudes that other nationalities do.
After this comes the highest level: look at yourself. Do you really know why you always wear a T shirt instead of looking fancy or sportive or elegant? Why do you eat so much garbage instead of carrots and celery? Do you really choose when to take the car, or the bus, or the bike or walk, or do you automatically take the car? You do many things out of habit, that is, without thinking.
2006-07-03 08:51:57 · answer #3 · answered by Fromafar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called trained response. They've seen it done, so they do it. They know that after the diaper comes the powder. Pavlov's dogs didn't know why their mouths watered when the bell rang, they just knew that it happened.
2006-07-02 23:59:58 · answer #4 · answered by Greg 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey, genius! "Illiterate" refers to someone who can't read, not someone who does things without knowing the reasons for them. People learn socially, by imitation of others, and we all do things without knowing why or questioning because we're imitating our peers or our parents.
2006-07-03 03:35:06 · answer #5 · answered by forbidden_planet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's imitation. That is how all of us learn in the early years of our lives. When I traveled to a foreign country, that was how I learned by watching what the natives did.
2006-07-03 04:19:59 · answer #6 · answered by karen wonderful 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm confused... is your question about illiteracy or putting talcum powder on a baby's behind?
2006-07-03 00:00:13 · answer #7 · answered by fiveamrunner 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes that escapes me also. They need to know why they do what they do. Just because someone else does it doesn't make it right. Talcom powder is not suppose to be used on babies and lots of people don't know that.
2006-07-02 23:58:53 · answer #8 · answered by nastaany1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋