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Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Psychology

Metacognition Is Prior, Justin J. Couchman, Mariana V.C. Coutinho, Michael J. Beran, J. David Smith Jan 2009

Metacognition Is Prior, Justin J. Couchman, Mariana V.C. Coutinho, Michael J. Beran, J. David Smith

Language Research Center

We agree with Carruthers that evidence for metacognition in species lacking mindreading provides dramatic evidence in favor of the metacognition-is-prior account and against the mindreading-is-prior account. We discuss this existing evidence and explain why an evolutionary perspective favors the former account and poses serious problems for the latter account.


The Curious Incident Of The Capuchins, J. David Smith, Michael J. Beran, Justin J. Couchman, Marianna V.C. Coutinho, Joseph B. Boomer Jan 2009

The Curious Incident Of The Capuchins, J. David Smith, Michael J. Beran, Justin J. Couchman, Marianna V.C. Coutinho, Joseph B. Boomer

Language Research Center

No abstract provided.


Animal Metacognition: Problems And Prospects, J. David Smith, Michael J. Beran, Justin J. Couchman, Mariana V.C. Coutinho, Joseph B. Boomer Jan 2009

Animal Metacognition: Problems And Prospects, J. David Smith, Michael J. Beran, Justin J. Couchman, Mariana V.C. Coutinho, Joseph B. Boomer

Language Research Center

Researchers have begun to evaluate whether nonhuman animals share humans’ capacity for metacognitive monitoring and self-regulation. Using perception, memory, numerical, and foraging paradigms, they have tested apes, capuchins, a dolphin, macaques, pigeons, and rats. However, recent theoretical and formal-modeling work has confirmed that some paradigms allow the criticism that low-level associative mechanisms could create the appearance of uncertainty monitoring in animals. This possibility has become a central issue as researchers reflect on existing phenomena and pause to evaluate the area’s current status. The present authors discuss the associative question and offer our evaluation of the field. Associative mechanisms explain poorly …