Cognitive Ethology

Cognitive Ethology is the study of animal behavior that focuses on understanding the mental processes behind those behaviors. It combines insights from cognitive science, which examines how minds work, and the idea of the "extended mind," suggesting that thinking can involve external environments and tools. It also relates to embodied cognition, emphasizing that our physical bodies and surroundings shape how we think and learn. By observing animals in their natural habitats, cognitive ethologists explore how animals perceive, think, and make decisions, offering valuable insights into the minds of non-human species.