Learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• describe studies that have explored various questions about the nature of animal minds, such as whether animals experience emotions and can engage in problem-solving

• explain how evolutionary theory is relevant to questions about animal minds

• describe some studies that have attempted to explore whether animals have a Theory of Mind (ToM) and discuss what these studies have allowed psychologists to conclude

• outline how studying animal minds contributes to psychological knowledge about human minds

• explain some of the strengths and shortcomings of comparative laboratory-based methods in psychology.