Prosocial Behaviour
The functioning of human society depends largely on our abilities to work with others toward shared goals and to work on behalf of others to help them achieve their goals. How do we learn to be prosocial? What keeps us from helping others?
We examine the evolution and development of prosociality, focusing on the social, cognitive, and temperamental factors that shape how we help, share, comfort, and cooperate. (Read more about an ongoing study here.)
Canine Cognition
Our lab is particularly interested in the interaction between dogs and humans. How do dogs and humans recognize each other's strengths and limitations, and how do they find ways to work together effectively?
We approach this question in a number of ways, examining nonverbal communication, memory for objects and events, and emotion regulation during dog-human interactions. We hope our findings will provide important information for the training and welfare of working and service dogs.
Teaching Comparative Cognition
The scientific study of animal cognition has roots in experimental psychology and evolutionary biology, with researchers often working in neuroscience, computing science, or ecology. As a consequence, students may encounter comparative cognition research in different courses or programs, depending on the institution.
We present approaches to teaching animal cognition that include techniques for lecture-based and online courses, as well as smaller courses emphasizing hands-on learning.
Collaborators
CSCD Lab
Dr. Kristen Dunfield
Concordia University
