Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Commentary
  • Published:

On attributing consciousness to animals

Nature volume 303, pages 11–14 (1983)Cite this article

Before we can attribute consciousness to animals we must first decide on our definition of the word.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Griffin, D.A. The Question of Animal Awareness: Evolutionary Continuity of Mental Experience (Rocke-fellow University Press, New York, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dawkins, M. Animal Suffering: The Science of Animal Welfare (Chapman & Hall, London, 1980).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  3. Wood-Gush, D.G.M. et al. (eds) Self Awareness in Domesticated Animals (UFAW, Potters Bar, 1980).

  4. Griffin, D.A. Dahlem Life Sci. Res. Rep. 21, (Springer, Berlin, 1982).

  5. Watson, J.B. Psychol. Rev. 20, 158–177 (1913).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Tolman, E.C. Purposive Behaviour in Animals and Man (Century, New York, 1932); Psychol. Rev. 55, 4, 189–258 (1948).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Uexküll, J. von Umwelt und Innenwelt der Tiere (Berlin, 1909).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Vesey, G. Other Minds (Open University Press, Milton Keynes, 1973).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Fischoff, B. in New Directions in Attribution Research (eds Harvey, J.H., et al.) (Erlbaum, Hillsdale, New Jersey, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Heider, F. The Psychology of Interpersonal Relations (Wiley, New York, 1958).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  11. Ashworth, P.D. Social Interaction and Consciousness (Wiley, New York, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Dennet, D. Philosophical Essays on Mind and Psychology (Harvester, Brighton, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Jones, E.E. & Davis, K.E. Adv. exp. soc. Psychol. 2, 219–226 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Wagner, D.M. & Vallacher, R.R. in Social Cognition: Perspectives on Everyday Understanding (ed. Forgas, J.P.) (Academic, London, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Duval, S. & Wicklund, R.A. A Theory of Objective Self-awareness (Academic, New York, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Popper, K.R. & Eccles, J.C. The Self and its Brain (Springer, Berlin, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Humphrey, N.K. in Consciousness and the Physical World (eds Josepheson, B.D. & Ramanchandran, V.S.) (Pergamon, Oxford, 1980); in Self-Awareness in Domesticated Animals (ed. Dawkins, M.) (UFAW, Potters Bar, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Crook, J.H. The Evolution of Human Consciousness (Oxford University Press, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Andrew, R.A. in Growing Points in Ethology (eds Bateson, P.P.G. & Hinde, R.A.) (Cambridge University Press, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Colvin, J. thesis, Cambridge Univ. (1982).

  21. James, W. The Principles of Psychology (Dover, New York, 1890).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Cooley, C.H. Human Nature and the Social Order (Scribner, New York, 1902).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Mead, G.H. Mind, Self and Society (Chicago University Press, 1934).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Wicklund, R.A. Am. Scient. 77, 2, 187–193 (1979).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Lewis, M. & Brooks, J. in The Development of Affect (eds Lewis, M. & Rosenblum, J.) (Plenum, New York, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Gallup, G.G. Science 167, 86–87 (1970); in Socio-ecology and Psychology of Primates (ed. Tuttle, R.H.) (Mounton, The Hague, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Crook, J.H. Anim. Behav. 18, 197–209 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Emlen, S.T. in Behavioural Ecology (eds Krebs, J.R. & Davies, N.B.) (Blackwell, Oxford, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Bertram, B. in Behavioural Ecology (eds Krebs, J.R. & Davies, N.B.) (Blackwell, Oxford, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Drent, R.H. in Dahlem Life Sci. Res. Rep. 21 (ed. Griffin, D.R.) (Springer, Berlin, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Ryle, G. The Concept of Mind (Hutchinson, London, 1949).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Vowles, D.M. in Self-Awareness in Domesticated Animals (ed. Dawkins, M.) (UFAW, Potters Bar, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Hinde, R.A. Towards Understanding Relationships (Academic, London, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Anderson, C.O. & Mason, W.A. Devl Psychobiol. 11, 289–299 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Kummer, H. et al. Recent Adv. Primatol. 1 (1978).

  36. Bachmann, C. & Kummer, H. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 6, 315–321 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Datta, S. thesis, Cambridge Univ. (1981).

  38. Waal, F.B.M. and Hoof, J.A.R.A.M. Behaviour 56, 194–214 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  39. Woodruff, G. & Premack, D. Cognition 7, 333–362 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Dennett, D.C. in Brainstorms: Philosophical Essays on Mind and Psychology (Bradford, Montgomery 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  41. Ristau, C.A. & Robbins, D. in Dahlem Life Sci. Res. Rep. 21 (ed. Griffin, D.R.) (Berlin, Springer, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  42. Maturana, H. in Cognition: A Multiple View (ed. Garvln, P.) (Spartan, New York, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1HH, UK

    John H. Crook

Authors
  1. John H. Crook
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Crook, J. On attributing consciousness to animals. Nature 303, 11–14 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/303011a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/303011a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing