Whom do children copy? Model-based biases in social learning

•Theoretical perspectives of model-based biases in social learning are outlined.•The adaptive value of model-based biases are proposed.•The development of cognitive skills enabling model-based biases are described.•Future directions including social and comparative perspectives are suggested.

This review investigates the presence of young children’s model-based cultural transmission biases in social learning, arguing that such biases are adaptive and flexible. Section 1 offers five propositions regarding the presence and direction of model-based transmission biases in young children’s copying of a model. Section 2 discusses the cognitive abilities required for differing model-based biases and tracks their development in early childhood. Section 3 suggests future areas of research including considering the social aspect of model-based biases and understanding their use within a comparative perspective.