BIOLOGY 363S
Animal Intelligence and the Social Brain
Complexity of animals' social lives, with focus on cognitive implications of sociality on acquisition, expression, and transmission of knowledge. Topics include: discrimination & insight learning; social influences on behavior; tool use & causality; traditions & cultural transmission; mechanisms of recognition, knowledge of social domain; prosociality & play; coalitions, cooperation, & reciprocity; conflict, punishment, & reconciliation; vocal & gestural communication; sharing; language & instruction; knowing what others know; self recognition & social monitoring; tactical deception & social manipulation; social norms/morality. Prerequisite: EvAnth 101 or Bio 202.
Topics
- discrimination & insight learning
- social influences on behavior
- tool use & causality
- traditions & cultural transmission
- mechanisms of recognition
- knowledge of social domain
- prosociality & play
- coalitions
- cooperation, & reciprocity
- conflict
- punishment, & reconciliation
- vocal & gestural communication
- sharing
- language & instruction
- knowing what others know
- self recognition & social monitoring
- tactical deception & social manipulation
- social norms/morality
Topics explicitly listed in official catalogue description
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027