A comparative perspective allows unpacking complex interpretations.
Our tendency towards rich interpretations of behaviour is common. Pigeons, however, can solve the same complicated tasks that are solved by primates, and often do so in a manner indistinguishable from primates. If we richly interpret human behaviour, or primate behaviour in general, yet find the exa...
| Published in: | Communications Psychology Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 1 - 5 |
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| Format: | pictorial tables/charts Journal Article |
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Springer Nature
4/3/2026
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| Summary: | Our tendency towards rich interpretations of behaviour is common. Pigeons, however, can solve the same complicated tasks that are solved by primates, and often do so in a manner indistinguishable from primates. If we richly interpret human behaviour, or primate behaviour in general, yet find the exact same signatures of that behaviour in pigeons, we should question whether our rich interpretation is warranted. By understanding how different animals solve complex tasks we can gain a better insight into how humans may be solving those same tasks and potentially avoid the theoretical pitfalls of rich interpretations. We frequently richly interpret human or primate behaviour, yet find the exact same signatures of that behaviour in pigeons. This Comment argues that understanding how different animals solve complex tasks gives us better insight into how humans may be solving those same tasks and potentially avoid the theoretical pitfalls of rich interpretations. |
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