TITLE

21 Animals That Are Way Smarter Than You Thought

DESCRIPTION

The past definitions of Psychology included the study of animal behavior.  The magazine Psychology Today lists reasons as “the study of animal behavior is a cornerstone of psychology for several reasons. Ethology, or the study of animals in their natural habitats, sheds light on how animals interact with each other and their environments, and why they behave the way they do. By studying animal behavior, humans can also learn more about their own behavior—a field known as comparative psychology.”  The field of animal studies is broad and provides understanding of basic processes that influence behavior.  This fascinating Newsweek article describes 21 animals in their habitat and how their behaviors have adapted to survival.  As it turns out, the behaviors are not simply instinctive but rather demonstrate cognitive abilities that include thinking, planning, and intelligence.  There is also a brief movie of a lab rat driving a miniature car, and many pictures of the 21 animals.

(NOTE:  The article also contains a brief video of a rat driving a miniature car.)

SOURCE

Newsweek, February 23, 2021, by Seren Morris

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.newsweek.com/21-animals-that-are-way-smarter-you-thought-1571299

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/ycjnaedp

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What are the reasons that Psychologists study animal behavior?

•After reading the article, what types of behaviors are demonstrated by animals?

•List three animals that show possible signs of cognition and thinking?

•If you were a lecturer to a group of students who wished to become farmers, which animals would you discuss and what behaviors would you highlight?