Research
Balearic Greyhound. W.E. Mason, from Wikimedia Commons.
Anthrozoology
Anthrozoology (i.e., human-animal interactions) is an interdisciplinary approach to the evolution, lived experience, and meaning of sharing space with other species. Current projects include investigation into the application of human parenting strategies with companion animals, collaborating with colleagues in Indian. I am also doing behavioral observations of human-canine dyads at public, dog friendly parks, and investigating social contagions across species. There is so much to discover in this space, and I am always open to speaking to graduate students about their project ideas!
Evolutionary Cognition
Evolutionary cognition, sometimes known as comparative cognition, asks us to consider how evolutionary pressures and opportunities shape the emotional and cognitive capacities of individual species. This creates a view of "intelligent" and "feeling" that is no longer centered on humans. Rather, we begin to view each species in relation to the needs of their past and current environments.
For example, how might a dog owner's understanding of canine capacities for cognition and emotion influence the way they train, live with, and even love their pets? How has our own evolutionary history shaped our capacity to expand "kin" beyond our own species?
What is this dog thinking?, copyright S. Volsche.
Dog runs to his human at sunset. Clearviewofthesky from Wikimedia Commons.
One Health Behavioral Wellness
The One Health Initiative seeks to create cross-disciplinary collaboration on topics related to human, non-human animal, and environmental health. I'm particularly interested in using this approach to consider topics related to emotional and behavioral health across species, including the role interspecific attachment may play in our own wellbeing.
For example, what is the emotional impact of losing one's beloved pet? How can the presence of other species improve our response to stress?