Primate Psychology

Catalog description

Humans are primates and this course is designed to introduce students to the field of primatology. The three main themes of the course are 1) Humans as primates and the current understanding of human evolution, 2) life history and social behavior of the major groups of primates (prosimians, New World & Old World monkeys, and apes), and, 3) a special emphasis on primate cognition. How does understanding nonhuman primates help us understand humans? Behaviors covered include, social organization, affiliation, dominance and aggression, and communication. Cognition discussed will include problem-solving, tool-use, counting, social cognition (and theory of mind), intention, and other related mental processes.