Learners shift from copying prestige to trusting their own skill judgments.

Evidence

Early on, their choice of models may be dominated by prestige information—the patterns of deference they observe. Later, as learners accumulate their own skill, know-how, and abilities to assess excellence, their judgments of whom to learn from will often shift from relying primarily on observations of others’ deference patterns to their own direct observations. — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success, 1211

Categorization

• QUESTION: If model choice shifts from prestige-copying to own-assessment later in development, this defines a developmental trajectory relevant to when (and for whom) conformist/prestige copying dominates.
• recurring: this claim recurs 2 times within its source
• XREF: connects to: Elders gain prestige because age signals accumulated cultural knowledge and wisdom. — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success: How Culture…, 442; Humans copy even fitness-destroying practices when prestige cues are present