This study reviews relevant research on same race imitation and reports on a study of imitation under conditions of ascribed and racial similarity in two culturally distinct and separate groups, white and aboriginal Australian children. Ascribed (by the experimenter) similarity and racial similarity resulted separately in greater imitation of a same sex, peer model's toy play behavior, but same race and different race imitation effects were statistically significantly different only for aboriginal children. Ascribed similarity also affected accuracy of recall irrespective of the race of the observer, and in conjunction with the race of the observer. The opportunities of culturally distinct and separate, as opposed to racially distinct, groups for same and different race encounters are discussed as well as the differences in culturally sanctioned learning styles. (Author/CMG)