Animal Intelligence: From Individual to Social Cognition

Description:

2nd revised edition. From ants to whales, the lives of animals are filled with challenges that demand split-second decisions: to fight or flee, dominate or obey, take off, share, eat, spit out or court. Learning enables behavioural adjustments to a changeable environment, while intelligence helps animals use their learned experiences in new situations. Drawing on evidence from both field and laboratory research, Animal Intelligence synthesises insights from ethology, behavioural ecology, and comparative psychology, highlighting the diversity of cognitive strategies across species. This thoroughly revised and expanded second edition incorporates a wealth of contemporary findings throughout: numerous topics have been revisited in light of new empirical data and theoretical developments, while some - including chapters on animal personalities, social learning, or concepts and notions in animal languages - are entirely new. Written in an accessible yet rigorous style for undergraduate and graduate students, this book will fascinate anyone with an interest in the world of animal behaviour.

* Provides a structured framework for understanding how ecological pressures and evolutionary history shape cognitive capacities across a wide range of animal species.

* Advances a pluralistic, evolutionarily grounded understanding of animal minds by integrating controlled laboratory research with field-based insights into species-specific behaviour.

* Encourages critical reflection and helps identify promising directions for future research, through engagement with contested interpretations and open problems.