Anecdotal cognitivism
Encyclopedia
Anecdotal cognitivism is a psychological theory and animal cognition
term which entails attribution of mental states to animals on the basis of anecdotes, and on the observation of particular cases, other than those observations made during controlled experiments. It is opposed to behaviorism
, where behaviorists are critical of anecdotal cognitivism, suggesting that controlled experiments are necessary to correctly measure stimuli and record observable behavior.
, to discredit using anecdotal evidence in assessing animal cognition
. In the case of Clever Hans
, a horse
was purported to be able to add and subtract using its hooves, and even answer questions surrounding European politics, but it was determined by later research that the horse's owner was in fact unknowingly cueing the horse
, and that when he was removed from the room, the horse
would not respond.
Anecdotal cognitivists respond to behaviorists by saying that behaviorism
would have the animals 'lose their minds', and that it is clear that by observation we can know a great deal about the cognitive processes of animals, and that the debate can start here, with simple observation, and not in a controlled setting or in a lab.
Animal cognition
Animal cognition is the title given to the study of the mental capacities of non-human animals. It has developed out of comparative psychology, but has also been strongly influenced by the approach of ethology, behavioral ecology, and evolutionary psychology...
term which entails attribution of mental states to animals on the basis of anecdotes, and on the observation of particular cases, other than those observations made during controlled experiments. It is opposed to behaviorism
Behaviorism
Behaviorism , also called the learning perspective , is a philosophy of psychology based on the proposition that all things that organisms do—including acting, thinking, and feeling—can and should be regarded as behaviors, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behavior...
, where behaviorists are critical of anecdotal cognitivism, suggesting that controlled experiments are necessary to correctly measure stimuli and record observable behavior.
Animal cognition
Anecdotal cognitivism is often criticized by behaviorists using specific cases, such as that of Clever HansClever Hans
Clever Hans was an Orlov Trotter horse that was claimed to have been able to perform arithmetic and other intellectual tasks....
, to discredit using anecdotal evidence in assessing animal cognition
Animal cognition
Animal cognition is the title given to the study of the mental capacities of non-human animals. It has developed out of comparative psychology, but has also been strongly influenced by the approach of ethology, behavioral ecology, and evolutionary psychology...
. In the case of Clever Hans
Clever Hans
Clever Hans was an Orlov Trotter horse that was claimed to have been able to perform arithmetic and other intellectual tasks....
, a horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
was purported to be able to add and subtract using its hooves, and even answer questions surrounding European politics, but it was determined by later research that the horse's owner was in fact unknowingly cueing the horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
, and that when he was removed from the room, the horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
would not respond.
Anecdotal cognitivists respond to behaviorists by saying that behaviorism
Behaviorism
Behaviorism , also called the learning perspective , is a philosophy of psychology based on the proposition that all things that organisms do—including acting, thinking, and feeling—can and should be regarded as behaviors, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behavior...
would have the animals 'lose their minds', and that it is clear that by observation we can know a great deal about the cognitive processes of animals, and that the debate can start here, with simple observation, and not in a controlled setting or in a lab.