L5 - Comparative Cognition

Question 1

Why do we misunderstand animal behaviour?

Answer 1

1. Anthropomorphism = when we see human characteristics in things that aren’t human
2. Anthropocentrism = belief that humans are at the centre of everything / are the most important entity in the universe
3. Anecdotal evidence = info gathered through personal experience or observations instead of research

Question 2

What are Tinbergen’s 4 why’s?

Answer 2

1. Causation - what causes behaviour - what are mechanisms that make it possible?
2. Ontogeny - how did the behaviour develop in the animal’s lifetime?
3. Survival value - what is the function of the behaviour?
4. Evolution - how the behaviour developed in the species history

Question 3

What are the two parts of causation??

Answer 3

1. Physiology - sensory systems, musculoskeletal system, nervous system, endocrine system
2. Cognition - perception and attention, learning, memory

Question 4

What comes under the ontogeny??

Answer 4

Innate behaviour
- Predispositions
- Sensitive periods
Circular reaction
- Starts with innate sensory-motor coordinations
- New experiences lead to new adaptive behaviours
- This achievements are integrated in complex systems and transform how the organism faces reality

Question 5

What are some of the problems with the idea of fitness? (survival value)

Answer 5

• Natural selection as “the designer” - choses what is bad and what is good
• Disregard to the individual’s life
• Cultural transmission and selection of structures that favour certain behaviours

Question 6

Why study animal cognition?

Answer 6

• Human cognition is just a particular case of animal cognition
• It can benefit humans (pest control, Domestication)
• Conservation