Primate Cognition [Kietas viršelis]

Offers a comprehensive review of scientific knowledge about nonhuman primate cognition. The work is informed by the Piagetian paradigm, which focuses on the individual's knowledge of objects, and some nonbehavioristic theories of discrimination and categorization. The bulk of the book concerns primates' physical and social knowledge. Discussed are primate knowledge of space, tools and causality, features and categories, quantities, social interaction, social strategies and communication, and social learning and culture. A general theory of primate cognition is proposed. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Soon after Charles Darwin formulated his theory of evolution, primate cognition became a major area of research. In this book, Michael Tomasello and Josep Call assess the current state of our knowledge about the cognitive skills of non-human primates. They integrate empirical findings on the topic from the beginning of the century to the present, placing this research in theoretical perspective. They begin with an examination of the way primates adapt to their physical world, mostly for the purpose of foraging. The second part of the book looks at primate social knowledge and focuses on the adaptations of primates to their social world for purposes of competition and cooperation. In the third section, the authors construct a general theory of primate cognition, distinguishing the cognition in primates from that of other mammals (human in particular). Their broad-ranging theory provides a guide for future research. Primate Cognition is an enlightening exploration of the cognitive capacities of our nearest primate relatives and a useful resource for a wide range of researchers and students in psychology, behavioral biology, primatology, and anthropology.