COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGY Animal Cognition

1. COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGYAnimal Cognition SIGNALLING SYSTEMS – FUNCTION & EVOLUTION The function of signals Signals are a basic form of non – linguistic communication. To maximise survival chances and gene replication, organisms must often communicate. Communication involves the transfer of information and the manipulation of the behaviour of others. For communication to occur, information sent must produce some change in behaviour from the participant. Signal communication is used for a variety of vital survival purposes, such as: FEEDING – Foraging behaviour (waggle dance of honeybees). ATTACK – The ritualised threat behaviour of growling and hackle raising shown by Wolves. DEFENCE – The alarm calls of birds, the defensive threat signals of vividly coloured insect. SOCIAL ORGANISATION – Status signals of posture shown by the dominant wolves, monkeys. REPRODUCTION – The mating fitness displays of competing male peacocks. CONT… LANA CROSBIE

2. COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGYAnimal Cognition SIGNALLING SYSTEMS – FUNCTION & EVOLUTION The Evolution of Signals Visual communication displays often evolve from behaviours shown in feeding, body maintenance or movement and become increasingly stereotyped and divorced from their original function as they become used for communication. An example of this is, Mallard duck courtship displays appear to have originally evolved from feather preening movements. The use of behaviour for signalling often starts through approach – avoid conflicts between competing males, or in courtship. This is a stressful situation for particular male involved. Under these stressful conditions – the Mallard duck, caught in a dilemma over whether to approach or avoid female duck, may have started preening himself as a displacement activity in his anxious state of indecision. This would have acted as a signal for the female to know his intentions (and so stay or approach the male if interested or remove herself if not). LANA CROSBIE

3. COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGYAnimal Cognition SIGNALLING SYSTEMS – MODES OF SIGNALLING TACTILE SIGNALS Advantages – High certainty that the message will be received due to intimacy of contact. Disadvantages – Extremely limited in range. Fairly limited in the amount and complexity of information. Herring gull chicks peck at the beaks of their parents to stimulate feeding behaviour. Bonobo chimpanzees signal conciliation through sexual touching behaviour. LANA CROSBIE

4. COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGYAnimal Cognition SIGNALLING SYSTEMS – MODES OF SIGNALLING SOUND SIGNALS LANA CROSBIE

5. COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGYAnimal Cognition SIGNALLING SYSTEMS – MODES OF SIGNALLING CHEMICAL SIGNALS LANA CROSBIE

6. COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGYAnimal Cognition SIGNALLING SYSTEMS – MODES OF SIGNALLING VISUAL SIGNALS LANA CROSBIE

7. COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGYAnimal Cognition Teaching human language to non – human animals Washoe – Gardner & Gardner (1969) taught the female chimp Washoe American sign Language (ASL). Lana – Rumbaugh (1977) taught the chimp an artificial language of symbols (Yerkish) on a computer keyboard. Akeakamai – Herman et al (1984) taught the dolphin an artificial, visual language of signs based on gestures. Phoenix – Herman et al (1984) taught the dolphin an artificial acoustic language based on computer generated whistling noises. LANA CROSBIE

8. COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGYAnimal Cognition Natural animal languages – The studies Cheney and Seyfarth’s (1990) – provides an example of language meaning in Vervet monkeys. Bright (1984) – Recorded the sounds of a captured dolphin. Janik (2000) – documented the richness of dolphin language. Crow (2000) – has argued that language in humans appeared as a result of a single genetic mutation in one individual. LANA CROSBIE

9. COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGYAnimal Cognition EXAM QUESTIONS (a) Describe two research studies of animal language. (12 marks) (b) Assess the value of these and / or other research studies of animal language. (12 marks) Describe and evaluate the use of two different signalling systems in non – human animals. (24 marks) LANA CROSBIE