Cognition, Evolution, and Behavior

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How do animals perceive their environment, learn, remember, and communicate? Do nonhuman animals exhibit counting, imitation, language use, or culture? What role does cognition play in nature, and how has it evolved? In this revised second edition, Sara Shettleworth explores these questions by synthesizing insights from psychology, behavioral ecology, and ethology, offering a comprehensive overview of animal cognition. She covers a range of topics, from species-specific adaptations in fish to theory of mind in chimpanzees, dogs, and ravens. The book reviews recent research on episodic memory, metacognition, cooperation, and other-regarding behavior, while also addressing theories that highlight the uniqueness of human cognition. The chapters are organized into three sections: Fundamental Mechanisms (perception, learning, categorization, memory), Physical Cognition (space, time, number, physical causation), and Social Cognition (social knowledge, learning, communication). New chapters delve into evolution and the brain, numerical cognition, and physical causation, integrating theories of instrumental behavior with foraging, planning, and tool use. This edition incorporates significant findings and theoretical advancements since the first edition's release in 1998, enriching the understanding of animal cognition.