The Dissenter #97 Jennifer Vonk: Comparing Humans and Other Species, and Primate Cognition
------------------Support the channel------------
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thedissenter
PayPal: paypal.me/thedissenter
------------------Follow me on---------------------
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedissenteryt/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDissenterYT
Dr. Jennifer Vonk is Professor of comparative/cognitive psychology at Oakland University. Her primary research interests are in two overlapping areas: animal cognition, and cognitive development. The underlying goal of her work is to examine cognitive continuities and discontinuities between humans and both closely and distantly related species.
In this episode, Dr. Vonk joins me to talk about what is comparative psychology; how we can apply evolutionary principles to better compare cognition between different species; the importance of studying how a trait develops during the lifetime of a species; the problem with anthropocentric approaches to studying other species; in what ways humans are different, and also how other animals might have some superior abilities; and, finally, the issue with studying animals in the wild and in the lab.
Time Links:
00:44 What is comparative psychology?
05:16 Species Dr. Vonk focuses on
09:45 Comparing species with evolutionary principles
17:15 Evolution and development
20:04 Comparing other primate species to humans
22:46 Anthropocentric views of other species’ cognition
24:34 Why are humans different?
36:47 But, are humans really cognitively superior?
43:20 Animals behave differently in the wild and in the lab
52:42 Follow Dr. Vonk’s work!
--
Follow Dr. Vonk’s work:
Personal website: https://www.jennifervonk.com/
Faculty page: https://tinyurl.com/y7flokrp
Articles on Researchgate: https://tinyurl.com/y8583rea
Books: https://tinyurl.com/y82gyfr6
--
A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS: KARIN LIETZCKE, ANN BLANCHETTE, JUNOS, SCIMED, PER HELGE HAAKSTD LARSEN, LAU GUERREIRO, RUI BELEZA, MIGUEL ESTRADA, ANTÓNIO CUNHA, CHANTEL GELINAS, JIM FRANK, JERRY MULLER, FRANCIS FORD, AND HANS FREDRIK SUNDE!
I also leave you with the link to a recent montage video I did with the interviews I have released until the end of June 2018:
And check out my playlists on:
PSYCHOLOGY: https://tinyurl.com/ybalf8km
PHILOSOPHY: https://tinyurl.com/yb6a7d3p
ANTHROPOLOGY: https://tinyurl.com/y8b42r7g