The results of studies with bonobo chimpanzees, parrots, and bottle-nosed dolphins have provided some compelling demonstrations of animal language learning. According to your textbook:
A) most psychologists now agree that nonhuman animals are not only capable of complex linguistic feats, but are clearly self-aware, and have a remarkable ability to think.
B) although the results of these studies are fascinating, many psychologists caution against trying to determine whether animals can think like humans, and instead they focus on the evolved cognitive abilities of specific species.
C) most psychologists working in the area of comparative cognition now agree that only humans can communicate using true language.
D) although the results of these studies are fascinating, most comparative psychologists believe that nonhuman animals are only capable of communicating, and these "language" demonstrations lack proper syntax and grammar.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The textbook suggests that while the results of animal language learning studies are interesting, psychologists caution against extrapolating too much and instead focus on understanding the unique and evolved cognitive abilities of different species. The other choices are either too extreme or not supported by the textbook.

The Results of Studies with Bonobo Chimpanzees, Parrots, and Bottle-Nosed