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Teaching Is a Natural Cognitive Ability for Humans
Author(s) -
Strauss Sidney,
Ziv Margalit
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
mind, brain, and education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.624
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1751-228X
pISSN - 1751-2271
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-228x.2012.01156.x
Subject(s) - normative , cognition , scope (computer science) , natural (archaeology) , multidisciplinary approach , psychology , cognitive development , teaching method , cognitive science , mathematics education , computer science , biology , epistemology , sociology , neuroscience , philosophy , social science , paleontology , programming language
We suggest that a multidisciplinary approach to teaching has potential to widen its scope. In that vein, we revisit our original claim that teaching is a natural cognitive ability among humans. We elaborate on three requirements for such an ability and report that, first, teaching strategies may be developmentally reliable. Findings indicate a possible normative developmental trajectory from age one year through adulthood. Second, teaching seems to be species‐typical, that is, it is a universal human achievement. Third, human teaching with a theory of mind ( ToM ) is species‐unique. Nonhuman animals may teach without a ToM .