Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Theory of Mind and Insight in Chimpanzees, Elephants, and Other Animals?

  • Chapter
Comparative Vertebrate Cognition

Part of the book series: Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects ((DIPR))

Abstract

This chapter attempts to provide an accessible review of a fundamental scientific and philosophical question: Are animals conscious? Instead of trying to address the issue of consciousness as a whole, this partial review will for the most part touch upon just two facets of consciousness—theory of mind and insight.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Aelian (3rd century, bc) On the Characteristics of Animals, Harvard University Press, Cambridge (English translation by A. F. Scholfield, 1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, S., 2000, The Astonishing Elephant, Random House, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baron-Cohen, S., Tager-Flusberg, H., and Cohen, D. J., eds., 2000, Understanding Other Minds, second edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, B. B., 1986, Tradition and social learning in animals, in: Animal Intelligence: Insights into the Animal Mind, R.J. Hoage and L. Goldman, eds., Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Blashford-Snell, J. and Lenska, R., 1997, Mammoth Hunt, HarperCollins, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, R. W. 2001, Social and technical forms of primate intelligence, in: Tree of Origin, F. B. M. de Waal, ed., Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, R. W. and Whiten, A., eds., 1988, Machiavellian Intelligence, Clarendon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrington, R., 1958, Elephants, Chatto and Windus, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carruthers, P., 1998, Natural theories of consciousness, Eur. J. Phil. 6(2):203–222. <http://www.psyche.cs.monash.edu.au/v4/psyche-4-03-carruthers.html>.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carruthers, P. and Smith, P. K., 1996, Theories of Theories of Mind, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Chevalier-Skolnikoff, S. and Liska, J., 1993, Tool use by wild and captive elephants, Anim. Behav. 46:209–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denis, A., 1963, On Safari, Collins, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncker, K., 1945, On problem solving, Psychol. Monog. 58:1–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eltringham, K., 1982, Elephants, Blandford, Dorset.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, R. and Medalie, S. D., 1983, The spontaneous use of a tool by a pigeon, Behav. Anal. Lett. 3:241–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finch, G., 1941, The solution of patterned string problems by chimpanzees, J. Comp. Psychol. 32:83–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fouts, Roger., 1997, Next of Kin, William Morrow, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • http://www.sciam.com/1998/1198intelligence/l198gallup.html.

  • Gomez, J. C, 1998, Assessing theory of mind with nonverbal procedures: Problems with training methods and an alternative “key” procedure, Behav. Brain Sci. 21: 119–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, J. A., 1966, Elephants do think, Af Wild Life 20:75–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gould, J. and Gould, C. G., 1994, The Animal Mind, Scientific American Library, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, D. R., 2001, Animal Minds, second edition, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groning, K. and Sailer, M., 1999, Elephants: A Cultural and Natural History, Konemann, Cologne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hare, B., Call, J., Agnetta, B., and Tomasello, M., 2000, Chimpanzees know what conspecifics do and do not see, Anim. Behav. 59:771–785.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harlow, H. F. and Harlow, M. K., 1965, The affectional systems, in: Behavior of Non-Human Primates, A. M. Schrier, H. F. Harlow, and F. Stollnitz, eds., Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harlow, F. and Settlage, P. H., 1934, Comparative behavior of primates. VII. Capacity of monkeys to solve patterned strings tests, J. Comp. Psychol. 18:423–435.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hart, B. L. and Hart, L. A., 1994, Fly switching by Asian elephants: Tool use to control parasites, Anim. Behav. 48:35–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heinrich, B., 1999, The Mind of the Raven, Harper Collins, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinrich, B., 2000, Testing insight in ravens, in: The Evolution of Cognition, C. Heyes, and L. Huber, eds., MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heyes, C. M., 1998, Theory of mind in nonhuman primates, Behav. Brain Sci. 21:101–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobhouse, L. T., 1915, Mind in Evolution, Macmillan, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooff, J. A. R. A. M., van., 2000, Primate ethology and socioecology in the Netherlands, in: Primate Encounters, S. C. Strum, and L. M. Pedigan, eds., University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koestier, A., 1964, Act of Creation, Macmillan, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohler, W., 1925, The Mentality of Apes, Harcourt, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linden, E., 1999, The Parrot’s Lament, Dutton, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackintosh, N. J., Wilson, B., and Boakes, R A., 1985, Differences in mechanisms of intelligence among vertebrates, in: Animal Intelligence, L. Weiskrantz, ed., Clarendon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macphail, E. M., 1982, Brain and Intelligence in Vertebrates, Clarendon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markowitz, H., 1982, Behavioral Enrichment in the Zoo, Van Nostrand, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • McComb, K., Moss, C, Sayialel, S., and Baker, L., 2000, Unusually extensive networks of vocal recognition in African elephants, Anim. Behav. 59:1103–1109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, C. L., 1920, Ani. Behav. Second edition, Edward Arnold, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nissani, M., 1975, A new behavioral bioassay for an analysis of sexual attraction and pheromones in insects, J. Exp. Zool. 192:271–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poole, J., 1997, Elephants, Voyageur Press, Stillwater, MN.

    Google Scholar 

  • Povinelli, D. J., 1989, Failure to find self-recognition in Asian elephants (Elephas max-imus) in contrast to their use of mirror cues to discover hidden food, J. Comp. Psychol. 103:122–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Povinelli, D. J., 1998, Can Animals Empathize? Maybe not. Sci. Am. http://www.sdam.com/1998/1198intelligence/l198povinelli.html.

  • Povinelli, D. J. and Eddy, T. J., 1996, What young chimpanzees know about seeing, Monogr. Soc. Res. Child Dev. 61 (No. 2, Serial No. 247).

    Google Scholar 

  • Povinelli, D. J. and O’Neill, D. K., 2000, Do chimpanzees use their gestures to instruct each other? in: Understanding Other Minds, Second edition, S. Baron-Cohen, H. Tager-Flusberg, and D. J. Cohen, eds., Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Povinelli, D. J. and Giambrone, S., 2001, Reasoning about beliefs: A human specialization? Child Dev. 72:691–695.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Povinelli, D. J., Nelson, K., and Boysen, S., 1990, Inferences about guessing and knowing by chimpanzees, J. Comp. Psychol. 104:203–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Povinelli, D. J., Bering, J., and Giambrone, S., 2000, Towards a science of other minds: Escaping the argument by analogy, Cogn. Sci. 24:167–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Premack, D., 1988, “Does the chimpanzee have a theory of mind?” revisited, in: Machiavellian Intelligence, R W. Byrne and A. Whiten, eds., Clarendon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reaux, J. E., Theall, L. A., and Povinelli, D. J., 1999, A longitudinal investigation of chimpanzees’ understanding of visual perception, Child Dev. 70:275–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reiss, D. and Marino, L. 2001, Mirror self-recognition in the bottlenose dolphin: A case of cognitive convergence, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98:5937–5942.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rensch, B., 1956, Increase of learning capability with increase of brain-size, Am. Nat. 90:81–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rensch, B., 1957, The intelligence of elephants, Sci. Am. 196:44–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romanes, G.J., 1882, Animal Intelligence, K. Paul, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russon, A. E., Bard, K. A., and Parker, S. T., eds., 1996, Reaching into Thought, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanderson, G. P., 1912, Thirteen Tears among the Wild Beasts of India, J. Grant, Edinburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanderson, I. T., 1962, The Dynasty of Abu, Knopf, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shand, M., 1995, Queen of the Elephants, Jonathan Cape, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shedd, W., 2000, Owls aren’t Wise and Bats aren’t Blind, Harmony, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smitha, B., Thakar, J., and Watve, M., 1999, Theory of mind and appreciation of geometry by the small green bee eater (Merops orientalis), Curr. Sci. 76:574–577.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spinage, C. A., 1994, Elephants, Poyser, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, V. J., 1978, Basic operant research in the zoo, in: Behavior of Captive Wild Animals, H. Markowitz and V. J. Stevens, eds., Nelson-Hall, Chicago, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, R. K., 1986, Reasoning and language in chimpanzees, in: Animal Intelligence: Insights into the Animal Mind, R. J. Hoage and L. Goldman, eds., Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, W. R. and Melzack, R, 1956, Early environment, Sci. Am. 194:38–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorpe, W. H., 1956, Learning and Instinct in Animals, Harvard University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tolman, E. C, 1937, The acquisition of string-pulling by rats—conditioned response or sign-gestalt? Psychol. Rev. 44:195–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuma, R S., 2000, Thinking like a chimp, HMS Beagle, Issue 90, http://www.news.bmn.com/hmsbeagle/90/notes/feature2-illustrator.

  • Uller, C. and Nichols, S., 2000, Goal attribution in chimpanzees, Cognition 76:B26–B34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Voelkl, B. and Huber, L., 2000, True imitation in marmosets, Anim. Behav. 60:195–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waal, F. B. M. de, ed., 2001, Introduction, Tree of Origin, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickler, W. and Seibt, U., 1997, Aimed object-throwing by a wild African elephant in an interspecific encounter, Ethology 103:365–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, J. H., 1950, Elephant Bill, Doubleday, Garden City, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wynne, C, 1999, Do animals think? The case against the animal mind, Fsychol. Today 32(6):50–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zentall, T. R, 2000, Animal Intelligence, in: Handbook of Intelligence, R J. Sternberg, ed., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

    Moti Nissani

Authors
  1. Moti Nissani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Neuroscience and Animal Behaviour School of Biological, Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia

    Lesley J. Rogers  & Gisela Kaplan  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2004 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Nissani, M. (2004). Theory of Mind and Insight in Chimpanzees, Elephants, and Other Animals?. In: Rogers, L.J., Kaplan, G. (eds) Comparative Vertebrate Cognition. Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8913-0_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8913-0_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-4717-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-8913-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation