PSYC 205 Study Guide - Fall 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - Fish, Natural Selection, Monkey
12 Oct 2018
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Cognition: knowledge or thinking; how animals acquire, store, and process information. Comparative cognition: a field of study that examines and compares cognition among animal species, including humans. Sometimes referred to as animal cognition or comparative psychology. Research helps us understand how certain cognitive processes evolved: connects this field to biology. Research can demonstrate what may be unique about human thinking. Research can demonstrate what is possible with and without human didactic parenting and culture: what about human social learning is different than other species. Research can help us to understand other species for their own sake: animal behaviour and cognition research informs policies regarding conservation and ethical practices. There are specific stimuli in the world that release certain behaviours: see cute puppy and you want to care for it. Implied hardwired behaviour and differences among animals in relation to learning.
