Teaching

==Teaching in non-human animals==
Teaching has been considered uniquely human because of mentalistic definitions. Indeed, in psychology, teaching is defined by the intention of the teacher, which is to transmit information and/or behavior and/or skill. This implies the need for the teacher to assess the knowledge state of the potential learner, thus to demonstrate [[theory of mind]] abilities. As theory of mind and intentions are difficult (if not impossible) to assess in non-humans, teaching was considered uniquely human.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kline |first1=Michelle Ann |title=How to learn about teaching: An evolutionary framework for the study of teaching behavior in humans and other animals |journal=Behavioral and Brain Sciences |date=2015 |pages=e31 |doi=10.1017/S0140525X14000090 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/behavioral-and-brain-sciences/article/abs/how-to-learn-about-teaching-an-evolutionary-framework-for-the-study-of-teaching-behavior-in-humans-and-other-animals/017C2C246E9C206562CAE3DB590B01EC}}</ref>
However, if teaching is defined by its function, it is then possible to assess its presence among non-human species. Caro and Hauser<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Caro |first1=T.M. |last2=Hauser |first2=M.D. |title=Is There Teaching in Nonhuman Animals? |journal=The Quarterly Review of Biology |date=1992 |volume=67 |issue=2 |pages=151-174 |doi=10.1086/417553 |url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/417553}}</ref> suggested a functionalist definition. For a behavior to be labeled as teaching, three criteria must be met :
* The behavior of the "teacher" must be observed only in the presence of a naive individual
* The behavior represents a cost for the teacher, or at least no direct benefit
* The possible consequence of the behavior is a learning gain for the learner