PSYC 205 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Sexual Reproduction, Information Processing

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 205
• Professor: Valerie Kuhlmeier

Document Summary

History of comparative cognition (week 1: lec 1) Cognition: how animals think, acquire, store and process information. Comparative cognition: comparing cognition between animals (includes humans) We learn the evolution of cognitive processes. Shows us the uniqueness of human thinking. History of field: i(cid:374)flue(cid:374)(cid:272)ed (cid:271)y the theory of e(cid:448)olutio(cid:374) (cid:271)y natural sele(cid:272)tio(cid:374) a(cid:374)d the (cid:858)(cid:272)o(cid:374)ti(cid:374)uity hypothesis(cid:859) Differe(cid:374)(cid:272)es (cid:271)et(cid:449)ee(cid:374) hu(cid:373)a(cid:374) a(cid:374)d a(cid:374)i(cid:373)al(cid:859)s (cid:373)i(cid:374)ds (cid:894)o(cid:374)e of degree, (cid:374)ot of ki(cid:374)d(cid:895: the work of early psychologists who experimented on behavioural responses to events. Human and non-human behaviour is adapted by learning new stimulus-response patterns. Only behaviour should be a psychological subject: the work of early biologists who experimented & examined animal behaviour in natural settings. Imprinting, fixed action patterns and sign signals & releasers. Implied hardwired behaviour and differences between animals relates to learning: the work of early cognitive psychologists and others interested in the mentality that guides behaviour. Cognitive processes are mediated by biological systems. Cognition can be measured by behavioural responses.