#97 Jennifer Vonk: Comparing Humans and Other Species, and Primate Cognition

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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!

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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

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