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Brian Hare, Assistant Professor

Research Interests:
Human Cognitive Evolution

Research Summary:
The Hominoid Psychology Research Group (www.eva.mpg.de/3chimps) compares the psychology of hominoids (human and non-human apes). Specifically, we seek to identify which features our social problem-solving abilities have evolved since humans, bonobos, and chimpanzees shared a common ancestor. In addition, we compare the psychology of various primates and non-primates to identify cases of psychological convergence. Such cases of convergence may provide a unique opportunity to infer how human-like social skills evolved. We conduct our non-invasive behavioral research in accredited African sanctuaries, Zoos and the Duke Lemur Center ............................................................................................................................................. - - - - Duke Canine Cognition Center - - - - We study the cognition of domestic dogs at the Duke Canine Cognition Center where people bring their pet dogs in to participate in some of the same problem solving games we present to great apes and children. We are hoping to understand more about the effect of domestication on dog cognition, identify breed differences in problem solving skills and generally understand the constraints of dog cognition in order to help us understand how we might help dogs be more effective companion animals (e.g. for disabled people, detection of substances, etc.)......... If your dog would like to participate in our problem solving games or you would just like more information about the Duke Canine Cognition Center, please send an email to -------- dukedogcognition@gmail.com ---------

Recent Publications   (search)

1. Herrmann, E., Call, J., Hernández-Lloreda, M., Hare, B., Tomasello, M.. "The cultural intelligence hypothesis: humans evolved specialized skills of social cognition." Science 317 (2007): 1360-1365.
2. Warnaken, F., Hare, B., Melis, A., Hanus, D., Tomasello, M. "Spontaneous altruism by chimpanzees and children." Public Library of Science 5 (2007): 1-7.
3. Hare, B., Melis, A., Woods, V., Hastings, S., Wrangham, R. "Tolerance allows bonobos to outperform chimpanzees in a cooperative task." Current Biology 17 (2007): 619-623.
4. Rosati, A., Stevens, J., Hare, B., Hauser, H. "The origins of human patience.." Current Biology 17 (2007): 1-6.
5. Tomasello, M., Hare, B., Call, J., Leehman, H. "Reliance on head versus eye gaze in great apes and human infants." Journal of Human Evolution 52 (2007): 314-320.

Education:

• Sofia Kovalevskaja Award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, 2004
• Ph.D., Harvard, 2004
• B.A., Emory University, 1998

Contact Info: 

004 Bio Sci Building | (919) 660-7292 | dukedogcognition@gmail.com | www.eva.mpg.de/3chimps

Curriculum Vitae