Dog Emotion and Cognition
Description
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About this course: Dog Emotion and Cognition will introduce you to the exciting new study of dog psychology, what the latest discoveries tell us about how dogs think and feel about us, and how we can use this new knowledge to further strengthen our relationship with our best friends.
Created by: Duke University-
Taught by: Brian Hare, Associate Professor
Evolutionary Anthropology
Each course is like an inter…
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When you enroll for courses through Coursera you get to choose for a paid plan or for a free plan .
- Free plan: No certicification and/or audit only. You will have access to all course materials except graded items.
- Paid plan: Commit to earning a Certificate—it's a trusted, shareable way to showcase your new skills.
About this course: Dog Emotion and Cognition will introduce you to the exciting new study of dog psychology, what the latest discoveries tell us about how dogs think and feel about us, and how we can use this new knowledge to further strengthen our relationship with our best friends.
Created by: Duke University-
Taught by: Brian Hare, Associate Professor
Evolutionary Anthropology
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
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Duke University Duke University has about 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students and a world-class faculty helping to expand the frontiers of knowledge. The university has a strong commitment to applying knowledge in service to society, both near its North Carolina campus and around the world.Syllabus
WEEK 1
Course Information
Dog Emotion and Cognition is a course designed to introduce the exciting new science of dog psychology to any level of dog enthusiast. In learning about dogs you will be introduced to evolutionary and cognitive theory, learn about experimental methodology, see how dogs compare to other species, and even have the chance to try some of the cognitive games you learn about with your own dog. The course is a great introduction to the field of animal cognition and animal behavior but is also relevant to anyone interested in human evolution or even dog training. When you finish you will think about your dog in a new way, will be ready to apply your new knowledge, and will be prepared to take higher level classes in the evolutionary or cognitive sciences.
1 video, 1 reading expand
- Reading: FAQs
- Video: Introduction to Dog Emotion and Cognition
WEEK 2
The Paradox of a Best Friend That Evolved From Our Worst Enemy
This module will provide an introduction to cognitive psychology and evolution, while having direct application to your dog. At the beginning of each lecture, Dr. Hare will suggest an optional reading from his book The Genius of Dogs, as well as free Dognition games to play at www.dognition.com/mooc. Dr. Hare discusses how our evolutionary relationship with dogs is a puzzle. He describes the meaning of cognition and what it looks like with modern research on animals. Last, he discusses what Dognition is and how can be used like a laboratory for the class.
5 videos, 4 readings, 3 practice quizzes expand
- Video: Introduction
- Reading: Introduction Slide
- Video: The Paradoxical Canine
- Reading: The Paradoxical Canines: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: The Paradoxical Canine
- Video: Cognition Defined
- Reading: What is Cognition: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Cognition Defined
- Video: Dognition, Part 1
- Video: Dognition, Part 2
- Reading: Dognition: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Dognition
Graded: Module Quiz: Cognition Through the Ages
WEEK 3
How Biology Studies Cognitive Evolution
In this module, Dr. Hare describes how the internal processes of the mind are studied through experiments. He explains how animal problem solving is best explained as scientists work toward better understanding the topic. Next, he describes the ecological approach to cognition through an evolutionary lens, which involves Tinbergen's four levels of analysis.
10 videos, 4 readings, 4 practice quizzes expand
- Video: Why Experiments, Part 1
- Video: Why Experiments, Part 2
- Video: Why Experiments, Part 3
- Reading: Why Experiments: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Why Experiments?
- Video: Ecological Approach to Evolution, Part 1
- Video: Ecological Approach to Evolution, Part 2
- Reading: Ecological Approach to Evolution: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Ecological Approach to Evolution
- Video: Ecological Approach to Cognition, Part 1
- Video: Ecological Approach to Cognition, Part 2
- Reading: Ecological Approach to Cognition: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Ecological Approach to Cognition
- Video: Theory of Mind, Part 1
- Video: Theory of Mind, Part 2
- Video: Theory of Mind, Part 3
- Reading: Theory of Mind: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Theory of Mind
Graded: Module Quiz: How Biology Studies Cognitive Evolution
WEEK 4
Dogs Are Cognitively Remarkable
In this module, Dr. Hare describes how dogs are cognitively remarkable. He begins by explaining theory of mind, which, when viewed through the ecological approach, suggests that social problem solving drove primate and human cognitive evolution. Next, he describes how good dogs are at understanding communicative intentions, especially compared to apes. Dr. Hare has three hypotheses to explain the remarkable communication found in domestic dogs.
5 videos, 2 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand
- Video: Communicative Intentions, Part 1
- Video: Communicative Intentions, Part 2
- Video: Communicative Intentions, Part 3
- Reading: Communicative Intentions: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Communicative Intentions
- Video: Origins of Dog Sociality, Part 1
- Video: Origins of Dog Sociality, Part 2
- Reading: Origins of Dog Sociality: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Origins of Dog Social Cognition
Graded: Module Quiz: Dogs are Cognitively Remarkable
WEEK 5
Evolutionary Accidents and Survival of the Friendliest
In this module, Dr. Hare explores three of his research studies he's done with foxes, New Guinea Singing Dogs, as well as research on wolves. He describes how early dog-wolves may actually be a product of natural selection rather than artificial selection, contrary to popular belief. He introduces a hypothesis called Survival of the Friendliest, which may explain how dogs, bonobos, and modern species evolved in contrast to close relatives, such as wolves and chimpanzees. Last, he relates the high level of social tolerance of these species to human by looking at human self-domestication.
9 videos, 4 readings, 4 practice quizzes expand
- Video: Discovering Domestication, Part 1
- Video: Discovering Domestication, Part 2
- Video: Discovering Domestication, Part 3
- Reading: Discovering Domestication: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Discovering Domestication
- Video: Artificial vs Self-Domestication, Part 1
- Video: Artificial vs Self-Domestication, Part 2
- Reading: Artificial vs Self-Domestication: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Artificial versus Self-Domestication
- Video: Ape Self- Domestication, Part 1
- Video: Ape Self-Domestication, Part 2
- Reading: Ape Self-Domestication: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Ape Self-Domestication
- Video: Human Self-Domestication, Part 1
- Video: Human Self-Domestication, Part 2
- Reading: Human Self-Domestication: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Human Self-Domestication
Graded: Module Quiz: Evolutionary Accidents and Survival of the Friendliest
WEEK 6
Problems That Dogs Can and Cannot Solve
In this module, you will learn about the genius of dogs. Brilliant examples of the canine mind will be explored. Dogs seem to be capable of inferential reasoning using the "principle of exclusion" as well as learning new words by imitating humans. Next, Dr. Hare discusses dog's abilities to understand physical problem solving compared to other species (hint, this isn't most dog's strong suit). Last, he will discuss how dogs are not cooperative breeders, do have a relaxed social system, and are excellent hunting companions for humans.
8 videos, 3 readings, 3 practice quizzes expand
- Video: Dog Social Explosion, Part 1
- Video: Dog Social Explosion, Part 2
- Video: Dog Social Explosion, Part 3
- Reading: Dog Social Explosion: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Dog Cognition Explodes: Understanding the Social World
- Video: Physical Cognition Explosion, Part 1
- Video: Physical Cognition Explosion, Part 2
- Reading: Physical Cognition Explosion: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Dog Cognition Explodes: Understanding the Physical World
- Video: Dog Cooperation, Part 1
- Video: Dog Cooperation, Part 2
- Video: Dog Cooperation, Part 3
- Reading: Dog Cooperation: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Dog Cooperation
Graded: Module Quiz: Problems That Dogs Can and Cannot Solve
WEEK 7
Finding Your Dog's Genius
In this module, Dr. Hare will discuss the common myths of breed differences and what research (including citizen science Dognition data) has actually been done to understand potential differences between breeds. You will also listen to Dr. Hare debunk "aggressive dog breed" stereotypes by learning about the literature and studies that have been done on dog aggression. He poses an interesting question about the actual culprit for the dog aggression problem, which is not even a dog! Next, he will explain how important understanding dog cognition is to training strategies. Dr. Hare will discuss how, unfortunately, not all cultures love dogs, and some see them as food and pests. He suggests ways that humans can live with dogs for mutual benefit. Taking all that you've learned into account, Dr. Hare then discusses how Dognition is revolutionizing what we know about dogs and how beneficial it could be to your relationship with your dog as well as for science!
10 videos, 6 readings, 3 practice quizzes expand
- Video: Breed Differences, Part 1
- Video: Breed Differences, Part 2
- Reading: Breed Differences: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Breed Differences in Cognition?
- Video: Dog Aggression, Part 1
- Video: Dog Aggression, Part 2
- Reading: Dog Aggression: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Dog Aggression
- Video: Teaching Genius, Part 1
- Video: Teaching Genius, Part 2
- Video: Teaching Genius, Part 3
- Reading: Teaching Genius: Lecture Slides
- Practice Quiz: Review: Teaching Genius
- Video: Dog's Best Friend
- Reading: Dog's Best Friend: Lecture Slides
- Video: Citizen Science
- Reading: Citizen Science: Lecture Slides
- Video: Dognition Report
- Reading: Dognition Report: Lecture Slides
Graded: Module Quiz: Finding your Dog's Genius
WEEK 8
Final Exam
The final exam covering topics from all modules.
Graded: Final Exam
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