Comparative Psychology

Numbering Code U-EDU02 32076 LJ46 Year/Term 2022 ・ First semester
Number of Credits Course Type Lecture
Target Year 3rd & 4th year students Target Student
Language Japanese Day/Period Mon.2
Instructor name KUROSHIMA HIKA (Graduate School of Letters Associate Professor)
Outline and Purpose of the Course To learn about intelligence and the function of emotion in a diverse range of animal species, discuss how they have developed, and understand the implications for how the human mind works.
Course Goals Become familiar with the inner workings of the animal mind and learn about its diverse qualities. Compare and contrast the animal and human mind to construct a new non-human-centric view of humanity. Master the skills to understand that human beings are not particularly special, and that the presence of diverse minds is the key to a future of global coexistence Consider a new set of behavioral guidelines for a truly prosperous future for all living beings.
Schedule and Contents The functions of the human mind are the product of billions of years of advancement. We are not able to directly examine the minds of extinct species, so the closest method available is to analyze the minds of living animals, compare them against each other, and thereby trace the course of their development. After reviewing basic learning principles, you will learn about comparative cognitive science viewpoints on the senses and perceptions, memory, conceptualization, emotion, social intelligence, and consciousness in a diverse range of animal species. You will discuss the diversity of the mind and its advancement, and consider the position of the human mind in relation to animal minds. The course schedule is as follows (changes may be made as appropriate):
1. Introduction - Beginnings of comparative cognitive science
2. Learning 1 (basic principles of learning)
3. Learning 2 (biology of learning)
4. The world according to animals - Sense and perception 1 (color vision) 5.The world according to animals - Sense and perception 2 (form perception)
5. 6.Animal memory
6. 7.Animal thought 1 (concepts)
8. Animal thought 2 (reason)
9. Animal social intelligence and emotion 1 (emotion)
10. Animal social intelligence and emotion 2 (tactical social skills - deception and cooperation)
11. Animal social intelligence and emotion 3 (elements of social intelligence)
12. Animal consciousness and introspection 1 (self-awareness and metacognition)
13. Animal consciousness and introspection 2 (mental time travel)
14. Animal consciousness and introspection 3 (understanding of others based on an understanding of self) / Review and discussion
15. Feedback
Evaluation Methods and Policy Evaluation method: Evaluated according to performance in short quizzes after class(50%) and final assignment(50%).
Evaluation criteria: Final assignment evaluated based upon the level of attainment of objectives.
Course Requirements None
Study outside of Class (preparation and review) It is important to study the content for each session by referring to outlines, textbooks, and reference books.
References, etc. その他
Kazuo Fujita, 『動物たちのゆたかな心』 (Kyoto University Press) ISBN:9784876988228.
Reading material mainly consists of a collection of research conducted in the lecturer labby Professor Kazuo Fujita, 『比較認知科学』(Foundation for the Promotion of the Open University of Japan (NHK Publishing)) ISBN:9784595317040.
Printed materials from the course with the same name at the Open University of Japan. Published in March 2017 as a revised version of "Comparative Ethology". The content of the latest Comparative Cognition Science is discussed plainly, Kazuo Fujita(Editor), (Gijutsu-Hyoron) ISBN: 9784774172583.
C3045 Introducing various topics and the latest achievements related to the workings of animal minds in the form of Q & A.
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