Animal Cognition

Question 1

What is the historical background to animal cognition

Answer 1

Pre 19th Century - thought humans were the only rational creatures
Post 19th Century - Darwin, origin of species. humans descended from apes

Question 2

What is comparative cognition

Answer 2

study of cognitive processes of all species and humans

behavioural adaptions that allow animal to choose a course of action based on their understanding of the situation and how to get to the goal

Question 3

3 reasons to study animal cognition

Answer 3

1. understand more about humans by comparing to other species - similarities and differences
2. understand more about other species
3. make inferences about evolution

Question 4

What are Tinbergen’s 4 questions

Answer 4

Proximate

• mechanism - why does behaviour occur
• development - how did behaviour develop

Ultimate

• function - how does it benefit individual’s fitness
• phylogeny - why did behaviour evolve

Question 5

What are the 2 approaches to comparing human and animal cognition

Answer 5

1. psychological
   
   • lab orientated
2. biological
   
   • behaviour in the wild

Question 6

What is a disadvantage of the psychological approach to comparing human and animal cognition

Answer 6

prone to anthropomorphism - use occams razor

Question 7

What is a disadvantage of the biological approach to comparing human and animal cognition

Answer 7

Lack of control of variables

Question 8

What is the dichotomous framework for comparing human and animal cognition

Answer 8

Low level - animals
looks at automatic, procedural and conciousless responses and associative learning

High level - humans
looks at intentional, conscious and declarative responses

Question 9

How is physical cognition measured

Answer 9

Spatial concept - how to get to food
Distinguishing concepts - which food is edible
Distinguising quantities - which food source has more food
Tool use - nut cracking behaviour, tube experiment

Question 10

How is social cognition measured

Answer 10

Cooperation
Social Learning
Communication
Perspective Taking
Theory of Mind