The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Evolutionary Psychology

by Vonk, Jennifer; Shackelford, Todd K.

• ISBN13: 9780199738182
• ISBN10: 0199738181
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-02-13
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Evolutionary Psychologyambitiously brings together an eclectic and provocative body of work from some of the brightest minds in comparative psychology and evolutionary psychology, highlighting the strengths and insights of each field. Across chapters, readers will come to appreciate the new field of "comparative evolutionary psychology," which successfully combines laboratory and field approaches, drawing on diverse methodologies and theoretical viewpoints to elucidate the mysteries of animal behavior and cognition. This comprehensive volume includes coverage of: - Unique specializations in a wide range of taxa from insects, cephalopods, reptiles, corvids, canines, cetaceans, and primates - Communication, cooperation, social learning, memory and cognitition in different species - Controversial theories about the evolution of sometimes surprising abilities in species, both phylogenetically close to and distant from humans. Suitable for seasoned researchers and graduate students alike, this volume reflects a range of views on human and non-human behavior and cognition, and advances these topics in a wide range of species.

Author Biography

Jennifer Vonk, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Todd K. Shackelford, Ph.D., is Professor and Chair of Psychology at Oakland University, and Director, Evolutionary Psychology Lab, Oakland University.

Table of Contents

Introduction to Comparative Evolutionary Psychology

Toward Bridging Gaps: Finding Commonality among Evolutionary and Comparative Psychologists

Why Behaviorism isn't Satanism

Confronting Language, Representation, and Belief: A Limited Defense of Mental Continuity

Cognitive Specializations

Evolved Cognitive Specializations

Convergent Evolution of Cognition in Corvids, Apes and other animals

Social Complexity and Intelligence

Cephalopod Intelligence

Cold-blooded cognition: Reptilian Cognitive Abilities

Cetacean Cognitive Specializations

Primate Cognitive Specializations

The Evolution of Canine Cognition

Memory

Episodic Memory and Planning

Comparative mental time travel: Is there a cognitive divide between humans and animals in episodic memory and planning?

Animal Models of Human Cognition

Metamemory across Species

Communication Systems

Symbolic Communication in the Grey Parrot

Communication in Non-human Primates

Female preference functions provide a window into cognition, the evolution of communication, and speciation in plant-feeding insects

Apes and the Evolution of Language: Taking stock of 40 years of Research

Culture and Cooperation

The Phylogeny and Ontogeny of Prosocial Behavior

The Ontogeny and of Phylogeny Cooperation

Culture and the Evolution of Human Sociality

The Evolution of Morality: Which Aspects of Human Moral Concerns Are Shared With Non-Human Primates?

The Evolutionary and Comparative Psychology of Social Learning and Culture

The Many Faces of Imitation: Cognitive and Motor Imitation in Children and Non-human Primates

The Ecology and Evolution of Social Behavior and Cognition in Primates

Conclusions and Future Directions

The Evolution of a Cooperative Social Mind

Darwin, Tinbergen, and the Evolution of Comparative Cognition

Comparative Evolutionary Psychology; a United Discipline for the Study of Evolved Traits

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