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Simple Mechanisms Can Explain Social Learning in Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris)

Publication ,  Journal Article
Mersmann, D; Tomasello, M; Call, J; Kaminski, J; Taborsky, M
Published in: Ethology
August 1, 2011

Recent studies have suggested that domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) engage in highly complex forms of social learning. Here, we critically assess the potential mechanisms underlying social learning in dogs using two problem-solving tasks. In a classical detour task, the test dogs benefited from observing a demonstrator walking around a fence to obtain a reward. However, even inexperienced dogs did not show a preference for passing the fence at the same end as the demonstrator. Furthermore, dogs did not need to observe a complete demonstration by a human demonstrator to pass the task. Instead, they were just as successful in solving the problem after seeing a partial demonstration by an object passing by at the end of the fence. In contrast to earlier findings, our results suggest that stimulus enhancement (or affordance learning) might be a powerful social learning mechanism used by dogs to solve such detour problems. In the second task, we examined whether naïve dogs copy actions to solve an instrumental problem. After controlling for stimulus enhancement and other forms of social influence (e.g. social facilitation and observational conditioning), we found that dogs' problem solving was not influenced by witnessing a skilful demonstrator (either an unknown human, a conspecific or the dog's owner). Together, these results add to evidence suggesting that social learning may often be explained by relatively simple (but powerful) mechanisms. © 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ethology

DOI

EISSN

1439-0310

ISSN

0179-1613

Publication Date

August 1, 2011

Volume

117

Issue

8

Start / End Page

675 / 690

Related Subject Headings

  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 0608 Zoology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Mersmann, D., Tomasello, M., Call, J., Kaminski, J., & Taborsky, M. (2011). Simple Mechanisms Can Explain Social Learning in Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris). Ethology, 117(8), 675–690. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2011.01919.x
Mersmann, D., M. Tomasello, J. Call, J. Kaminski, and M. Taborsky. “Simple Mechanisms Can Explain Social Learning in Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris).” Ethology 117, no. 8 (August 1, 2011): 675–90. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2011.01919.x.
Mersmann D, Tomasello M, Call J, Kaminski J, Taborsky M. Simple Mechanisms Can Explain Social Learning in Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris). Ethology. 2011 Aug 1;117(8):675–90.
Mersmann, D., et al. “Simple Mechanisms Can Explain Social Learning in Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris).” Ethology, vol. 117, no. 8, Aug. 2011, pp. 675–90. Scopus, doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.2011.01919.x.
Mersmann D, Tomasello M, Call J, Kaminski J, Taborsky M. Simple Mechanisms Can Explain Social Learning in Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris). Ethology. 2011 Aug 1;117(8):675–690.
Journal cover image

Published In

Ethology

DOI

EISSN

1439-0310

ISSN

0179-1613

Publication Date

August 1, 2011

Volume

117

Issue

8

Start / End Page

675 / 690

Related Subject Headings

  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 0608 Zoology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology