The paper considers an imitation dynamic in the context of Cournot oligopoly. The pure ”imitate-the-best” behavior can lead to an outcome inconsistent with Cournot-Nash equilibrium. The paper extends purely imitative behavior to imperfect imitation in the two-stage model with capacities and prices. This variation in the imitative behavior improves efficiency and makes the Cournot-Nash equilibri...

We consider models of stochastic evolution in two-strategy games in which agents employ imitative decision rules. We introduce committed agents: for each strategy, we suppose that there is at least one agent who plays that strategy without fail. We show that unlike the standard imitative model, the model with committed agents generates unambiguous infinite horizon predictions: the asymptotics o...

We present an initial comparative evaluation between monotonic mixing and the traditional linear weighted combination of tactics in a multi-issue negotiation scenario. As the traditional mixing method may produce a non-monotonic sequence of utilities of proposed offers in case imitative and non-imitative tactics are mixed together (even when weights are static) we demonstrate that both agents c...

Various models have been proposed to explain information technology (IT) adoption behavior. However, these models are based primarily on logical deliberation. In reality, it is impossible to obtain perfect information for a rational evaluation of new or emerging IT. In this situation, sometimes the “best alternative” is imitation. We believe that two opposing forces influence the beliefs of ent...

A. Whiten, D. M. Custance, J.-C. Gomez, P. Teixidor, and K. A. Bard (1996) tested chimpanzees' (Pan troglodytes) and human children's (Homo sapiens) skills at imitation with a 2-action test on an "artificial fruit." Chimpanzees imitated to a restricted degree; children were more thoroughly imitative. Such results prompted some to assert that the difference in imitation indicates a difference in...

Socio-emotional behaviour is in part sex-related in humans, although the contribution of the biological and socio-cultural factors is not yet known. This study explores sex-related differences during the earliest communicative exchange, the neonatal imitation in 43 newborn infants (3–96 hours old) using an index finger extension imitative gesture. Results showed that although the experimenter p...

In this paper we describe some interaction strategies employed by the Jambot – an interactive music system that we have recently developed. In particular we outline three approaches that the Jambot uses to mediate between imitative and intelligent actions. The approaches are (i) mode switching based on confidence of understanding, (ii) filtering and elaboration of imitative actions and (iii) me...

The present investigation demonstrated a systematic teaching procedure for establishing a normal toddler as a peer-model for three children showing delayed development, each one under 27 mo. of age. For each delayed subject, training consisted of adult-directed prompting and social reinforcement contingent upon the delayed children's imitations of material use and motor responses emitted by a n...

Two studies test the hypothesis that imitative fidelity is influenced by cues to interpret behavior as instrumental versus conventional. Study 1 (N=57, 4-5-yr-olds) manipulated non-verbal cues (start- and end-states of action sequences) and Study 2 (N=211, 4-6-yr-olds) manipulated verbal cues to examine the effects of information about instrumental versus conventional goals on imitative fidelit...