| Records |
| Author |
Mersmann, D.; Tomasello, M.; Call, J.; Kaminski, J.; Taborsky, M. |
| Title |
Simple Mechanisms Can Explain Social Learning in Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris) |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2011 |
Publication |
Ethology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ethology |
| Volume |
117 |
Issue |
8 |
Pages |
675-690 |
| Keywords |
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| Abstract |
Abstract Recent studies have suggested that domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) engage in highly complex forms of social learning. Here, we critically assess the potential mechanisms underlying social learning in dogs using two problem-solving tasks. In a classical detour task, the test dogs benefited from observing a demonstrator walking around a fence to obtain a reward. However, even inexperienced dogs did not show a preference for passing the fence at the same end as the demonstrator. Furthermore, dogs did not need to observe a complete demonstration by a human demonstrator to pass the task. Instead, they were just as successful in solving the problem after seeing a partial demonstration by an object passing by at the end of the fence. In contrast to earlier findings, our results suggest that stimulus enhancement (or affordance learning) might be a powerful social learning mechanism used by dogs to solve such detour problems. In the second task, we examined whether naïve dogs copy actions to solve an instrumental problem. After controlling for stimulus enhancement and other forms of social influence (e.g. social facilitation and observational conditioning), we found that dogs’ problem solving was not influenced by witnessing a skilful demonstrator (either an unknown human, a conspecific or the dog’s owner). Together, these results add to evidence suggesting that social learning may often be explained by relatively simple (but powerful) mechanisms. |
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| Publisher |
Blackwell Publishing Ltd |
Place of Publication |
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Edition |
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ISSN  |
1439-0310 |
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| Notes |
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Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
5409 |
| Permanent link to this record |
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| Author |
Call, J.; Tomasello, M. |
| Title |
Use of social information in the problem solving of orangutans (<em>Pongo pygmaeus</em>) and human children (<em>Homo sapiens</em>) |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
1995 |
Publication |
Journal of Comparative Psychology |
Abbreviated Journal |
J. Comp. Psychol. |
| Volume |
109 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
308-320 |
| Keywords |
cross species imitative learning in problem solving, human 3–4 yr olds vs orangutans |
| Abstract |
Fourteen juvenile and adult orangutans and 24 3- and 4-yr-old children participated in 4 studies on imitative learning in a problem-solving situation. In all studies a simple to operate apparatus was used, but its internal mechanism was hidden from subjects to prevent individual learning. In the 1st study, orangutans observed a human demonstrator perform 1 of 4 actions on the apparatus and obtain a reward; they subsequently showed no signs of imitative learning. Similar results were obtained in a 2nd study in which orangutan demonstrators were used. Similar results were also obtained in a 3rd study in which a human encouraged imitation from an orangutan that had previously been taught to mimic arbitrary human actions. In a 4th study, human 3- and 4-yr-old children learned the task by means of imitation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
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US: American Psychological Association |
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| ISSN |
1939-2087 (Electronic); 0735-7036 (Print) |
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Conference |
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| Notes |
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Approved |
yes |
| Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ 1995-42883-001 |
Serial |
5448 |
| Permanent link to this record |
