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2/ Social systems often frame learning-by-imitation as not learning at all, such as "imitation is the best form of flattery" or "respect"
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3/ Awkwardness of a big chunk (say 30%) of any group being in learning mode at any given time is aestheticized away, making it seem perfect.
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4/ A minority of people figure out social behaviors by other means: analysis, experiment, observation. Their learning seems inept, gauche.
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5/ All social learning involves a high failure rate. Social learning failure not based on imitation incurs extra shaming, embarrassment
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6/ Failure rate for non-imitative learning is higher, since it has undergone less testing. So more frequent failure with less face-saving.
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7/ BUT when it works, non-imitative social learning can badly disrupt and threaten entire prevailing social order. Shaming turns to fear.
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8/ Instead of the learner being embarrassed, host social group is collectively embarrassed. Learning success exposes and exploits a weakness
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9/ This is a successful "social hack" when theatrical nature of the social reality stands temporarily exposed and a sociopath is born.
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10/ Social system may scab over and heal with an adaptive patch, or die of a mortal wound. But learner will never slavishly imitate again.
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11/ This is how social groups evolve: non-imitative social hacks+collective embarrassment. Rare moments when mountain moves to Mohammad.
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