Duke Institute for Brain Sciences

What is human about our mind and brain and how did it get that way?

Brian Hare leads the The Hominoid Psychology Research Group which 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 (e.g. lemurs) and non-primates (e.g. dogs) 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, The Duke Lemur Center and accredited zoos.

www.3chimpsduke.com

www.dukedogs.com

Ph.D., Harvard University, Biological Anthropology, 2004

M.A., Harvard University, Anthropology, 2000

B.A., Emory University, Anthropology and Psychology and Human and Natural Ecology, 1998

Hare, B. Kwetuenda, S. 2010. Bonobos voluntarily share their own food with others. Current Biology. 20, R230-231.

Wobber, V., Wrangham, R., Hare, B. 2010. Bonobos exhibit delayed development of social behavior and cognition relative to chimpanzees. Current Biology. 20, 226-230.

Herrmann, E., Call, J., Hernández-Lloreda, M., Hare, B. , Tomasello, M. 2010. The structure of individual differences in the cognitive abilities of children and chimpanzees. Psychological Science. 21(1) 102-110.

Wobber, V., Hare, B., Maboto, J., Lipson, S. Wrangham, R., Ellison, P. 2010. Differential reactivity of steroid hormones in chimpanzees and bonobos when anticipating food competition. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. www.pnas.org/cgi/idoi/10.1073/pnas.1007411107

Herrmann, E., Hare, B. Call, J., Tomasello, M. in press. Differences in the Cognitive Skills of Bonobos and Chimpanzees. PLoS One. 5, e12438.

Rosati, A. & Hare, B. in press. Chimpanzee and bonobos distinguish between risk and ambiguity. Proceedings of Royal Society: Biology Letters.