scholarly journals The Importance of a Truly Comparative Methodology for Comparative Psychology

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mackenzie F. Smith ◽  
Julia Watzek ◽  
Sarah F. Brosnan
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Research ◽  
Comparative Psychology ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Psychological Mechanisms ◽  
Evolution And Development ◽  
Comparative Methodology ◽  
Current Article ◽  
Multiple Species ◽  
Theoretical Considerations

Comparative research has taught us much about the evolution and development of human and animal behavior. Humans share not just physical and biological similarities with other species, but also many behavioral traits and, in some of these cases, the psychological mechanisms behind them. Comparing behavior and cognition across multiple species can help scientists to pinpoint why and when in phylogenetic history a behavior may have evolved, how it evolved, and what the mechanisms behind it are (Tinbergen, 1963). While the comparative approach has proven quite effective in addressing these questions, comparing behavior across multiple species is not as easy and straightforward as it may initially seem. Rigorous methodology and careful interpretation of results is crucial to answering any of these questions definitively. The focus of the current article is on the comparative methodology and the important factors that need to be addressed in order for comparative research to be effective. We first discuss the benefits and importance of comparative research, followed by the challenges that need to be overcome in good comparative work. We then discuss experimental economics as one “model system” for comparative work that has proven particularly good at addressing such issues, and comment on other approaches. We conclude with future directions for comparative research with an eye on important methodological and theoretical considerations.

scholarly journals The Value of Research in Comparative Cognition

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Zentall
Keyword(s):  
Conditioned Reinforcement ◽  
Comparative Research ◽  
Comparative Cognition ◽  
Comparative Psychology ◽  
Positive Contrast ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Social Reinforcement ◽  
General Terms ◽  
Control Of Variables ◽  
Suboptimal Behavior

Most research of comparative cognition has focused on the degree to which cognitive phenomena that have been reported in humans, especially children, can also be demonstrated in other animals. The value of such comparative research has not only been the finding that other animals show behavior that is qualitatively similar to that of humans but because the comparative approach calls for the careful control of variables often confounded with the mechanisms being tested, the comparative approach has identified procedures that could also improve the design of research with humans. The comparative approach has also been used to study the degree to which other animals demonstrate human biases and suboptimal behavior (e.g., commercial gambling). When applied to this field of research, the comparative approach has generally taken the position that human biases generally thought to be established by complex social and societal mechanisms (e.g., social reinforcement and entertainment) may be more parsimoniously accounted for by simpler mechanisms (i.e., conditioned reinforcement and positive contrast). When explained in terms of these mechanisms, the results have implications for explaining in simpler and more general terms the results of similar research with humans. Thus, comparative psychology tells us not only about the similarities and possible differences in behavior among species but it also may have implications for our understanding of similar behavior in humans.

What Comparative Psychology is about

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald A. Dewsbury
Keyword(s):  
19Th Century ◽  
Comparative Psychology ◽  
Undergraduate Curriculum ◽  
Behavioral Patterns ◽  
Late 19Th Century ◽  
Development Control ◽  
Evolution And Development ◽  
Functional Autonomy

Comparative (or zoological) psychology is concerned with the genesis (evolution and development), control, and consequences of a broad range of behavioral patterns. It emerged during the late 19th century with the concerns of Darwin, Romanes, Spalding, and others who studied the evolution of human minds and instincts. However, it has developed a functional autonomy. Comparative psychology deserves a place in the undergraduate curriculum for historical reasons and because modem comparative psychology provides a breadth of perspective on behavior unmatched elsewhere in psychology.

scholarly journals Evolution of speech rhythm: a cross-species perspective

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Ravignani ◽  
Simone Dalla Bella ◽  
Simone Falk ◽  
Chris Kello ◽  
Florencia Noriega ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Coordination ◽  
Temporal Structure ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Speech Rhythm ◽  
Human Speech ◽  
Origin And Evolution ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Evolution Of Speech ◽  
Animal Vocalizations

Cognition and communication, at the core of human speech rhythm, do not leave a fossil record. However, if the purpose is to understand the origin and evolution of speech rhythm, alternative methods are available. A powerful tool is comparative approach: studying the presence or absence of cognitive/behavioral traits in other species, drawing conclusions on which traits are shared between species, and which are recent human inventions. Here we apply this approach to traits related to human speech rhythm. Many species exhibit temporal structure in their vocalizations but little is known about the range of rhythmic structures perceived and produced, their biological and developmental bases, and communicative functions. We review the literatures on human and non-human studies of rhythm in speech and animal vocalizations to survey similarities and differences. We report important links between vocal perception and motor coordination, and the differentiation of rhythm based on hierarchical temporal structure. We extend this review to quantitative techniques useful for computing rhythmic structure in acoustic sequences and hence facilitating cross-species research. While still far from a full comparative cross-species perspective of speech rhythm, we are closer to fitting missing pieces of the puzzle.

scholarly journals Evolution of speech rhythm: a cross-species perspective

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Ravignani ◽  
Simone Dalla Bella ◽  
Simone Falk ◽  
Chris Kello ◽  
Florencia Noriega ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Coordination ◽  
Temporal Structure ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Speech Rhythm ◽  
Human Speech ◽  
Origin And Evolution ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Evolution Of Speech ◽  
Animal Vocalizations

Cognition and communication, at the core of human speech rhythm, do not leave a fossil record. However, if the purpose is to understand the origin and evolution of speech rhythm, alternative methods are available. A powerful tool is comparative approach: studying the presence or absence of cognitive/behavioral traits in other species, drawing conclusions on which traits are shared between species, and which are recent human inventions. Here we apply this approach to traits related to human speech rhythm. Many species exhibit temporal structure in their vocalizations but little is known about the range of rhythmic structures perceived and produced, their biological and developmental bases, and communicative functions. We review the literatures on human and non-human studies of rhythm in speech and animal vocalizations to survey similarities and differences. We report important links between vocal perception and motor coordination, and the differentiation of rhythm based on hierarchical temporal structure. We extend this review to quantitative techniques useful for computing rhythmic structure in acoustic sequences and hence facilitating cross-species research. While still far from a full comparative cross-species perspective of speech rhythm, we are closer to fitting missing pieces of the puzzle.

scholarly journals Comparative research aspects on hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions: the case of Brazil and Portugal

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 1375-1388 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Victor Muniz Rocha ◽  
João Sarmento ◽  
Bruno Moita ◽  
Ana Patrícia Marques ◽  
Rui Santana
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Ambulatory Care ◽  
Comparative Research ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Methodological Aspects ◽  
Ambulatory Care Sensitive ◽  
Sensitive Conditions

Abstract Hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions have been used to measure access, quality and performance of the primary health care delivery system, as timely and adequate care could potentially avoid the need of hospitalization. Comparative research provides the opportunity for cross-country learning process. Brazil and Portugal have reformed their primary health care services in the last years, with similar organizational characteristics. We used hospitalization data of Brazil and Portugal for the year 2015 to compare hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions between the two countries, and discussed conceptual and methodological aspects to be taken into consideration in the comparative approach. Brazil and Portugal presented similarities in causes and standardized rates of hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions. There was great sensitivity on rates according to the methodology employed to define conditions. Hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions are important sources of pressure for both Brazil and Portugal, and there are conceptual and methodological aspects that are critical to render the country-comparison approach useful.

scholarly journals Capuchin and rhesus monkeys show sunk cost effects in a psychomotor task

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Watzek ◽  
Sarah Brosnan
Keyword(s):  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
Sunk Costs ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Moving Target ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Sunk Cost ◽  
Psychological Mechanisms ◽  
Human Decision ◽  
Cost Effect

Human decision-making is often swayed by irrecoverable investments even though it should only be based on future – and not past – costs and benefits. Although this sunk cost effect is widely documented and can lead to devastating losses, the underlying psychological mechanisms are unclear. To tease apart possible explanations through a comparative approach, we assessed capuchin and rhesus monkeys’ susceptibility to sunk costs in a psychomotor task. Monkeys needed to track a moving target with a joystick-controlled cursor for variable durations. They could stop at any time, ending the trial without reward. To minimize the work required for a reward, monkeys should have always persisted for at least 1 second, but should have abandoned the trial if that did not yield a reward. Capuchin monkeys and especially rhesus macaques persisted to trial completion even when it was suboptimal, and were more likely to complete the trial the longer they had already tracked the target. These effects were less pronounced, although still present, when the change in expected tracking duration was signalled visually. These results show that sunk cost effects can arise in the absence of human-unique factors and may emerge, in part, because persisting can resolve uncertainty.

scholarly journals Tactical Communications between Military Vehicles

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-23
Author(s):  
André Ferreira ◽  
João Torres ◽  
Maria Martins ◽  
Antonio Baptista
Keyword(s):  
Optical Communications ◽  
Free Space ◽  
Printed Circuit Boards ◽  
Circuit Boards ◽  
Free Space Optical ◽  
Optical Signals ◽  
Military Vehicles ◽  
Evolution And Development ◽  
Military Applications ◽  
Theoretical Considerations

The increasing evolution and development of telecommunications as well as the need for wider bandwidths to comply with the users’ needs, has led to the development of the so-called free space optical communications. The advantages of optical communications in comparison to radio frequency communications draw interest for certain military applications. This paper describes the simulation, development and implementation of an optical communication system which integrates the various functional blocks of the optical emitter and the optical receiver and presents some theoretical considerations about the specific characteristics of the propagation of the optical signals in free space. The implementation of this system in military vehicles to allow wider bandwidth in military communications, as well as to function as an alternative system to the used systems, is one of the objectives of this dissertation. For this purpose, two circuits (emitter and receiver) were projected and designed including the design of printed circuit boards (PCB) and performed some simulations of the optical part of the complete system and the electronic simulation of some parts of the electronic circuits.

Possessiveness

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfonso Troisi
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Child Abuse ◽  
Intimate Relationships ◽  
Personality Profile ◽  
Anxious Attachment ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Psychological Mechanisms ◽  
John Bowlby ◽  
Maternal Abuse ◽  
Clinical Conditions

The opposite of detachment is possessiveness, which generally reflects a personality profile characterized by anxious attachment. This chapter describes the psychological and behavioral traits that characterize people with anxious attachment and discusses two clinical conditions related to abnormal levels of possessiveness: child abuse and pathological jealousy. The discussion of these two conditions is based on very different databases. Whereas descriptions and explanations of pathological jealousy are based on psychiatric literature, the analysis of child abuse consists of a synopsis of studies of spontaneous cases of maternal abuse of offspring in monkeys, including the successful pharmacological treatment of abusive mothers. Also recounted is the author’s correspondence with John Bowlby regarding interpretation of the observations in monkeys. The chapter closes with a brief discussion of the psychological mechanisms that motivate normal jealousy in intimate relationships and of gender differences in jealousy, along with evolutionary explanations for such differences.

scholarly journals Psychological Mechanisms Forged by Cultural Evolution

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 399-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia Heyes
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Neuroscience ◽  
Cultural Evolution ◽  
Developmental Psychology ◽  
Comparative Psychology ◽  
Human Mind ◽  
Cultural Learning ◽  
Cognitive Mechanisms ◽  
Psychological Mechanisms ◽  
Fit For Purpose ◽  
Nature And Nurture

The adaptive features of cognitive mechanisms, the features that make them fit for purpose, have traditionally been explained by nature and nurture. In the last decade, evidence has emerged that distinctively human cognitive mechanisms are also, and predominantly, shaped by culture. Like physical technology, human cognitive mechanisms are inherited via social interaction and made fit for purpose by culture evolution. This article surveys evidence from developmental psychology, comparative psychology, and cognitive neuroscience indicating that imitation, mentalizing, and language are “cognitive gadgets” shaped predominantly by cultural evolution. This evidence does not imply that the minds of newborn babies are blank slates. Rather, it implies that genetic evolution has made subtle changes to the human mind, allowing us to construct cognitive gadgets in the course of childhood through cultural learning.

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