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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science pp 1–8Cite as

Nonhuman Intelligence

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Synonyms

Animal intelligence; Cognitive complexity; Intellectual capacity; Intellectual functioning; IQ

Definition

Intelligence in animals can be defined in terms of problem-solving ability, both acquisition to solve problems and the ability to generalize what is learned to novel situations. Intelligence may also be measured in terms of behavioral flexibility, which is comprised of inhibition and innovation components and which concerns adaptability to new and changing environments.

Introduction

Two main categories of inquiry derive from the central topic of nonhuman intelligence. The first category entails questions regarding species differences. Are some species of animals considered more intelligent than others? If so, which species are considered most intelligent? These questions should lead one to ponder whether it is fair to compare different species on the same tasks. The second category entails individual differences. Do individuals within a species vary in their intelligence,...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

    Jennifer Vonk

Authors
  1. Jennifer Vonk
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Correspondence to Jennifer Vonk .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland Univ Dept of Psycholgy, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana Weekes-Shackelford

  2. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  3. Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

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Vonk, J. (2016). Nonhuman Intelligence. In: Weekes-Shackelford, V., Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3110-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3110-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

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