Josep Call
Encyclopedia
Josep Call is a comparative psychologist
specializing in primate cognition
. He was born in Catalonia
, Spain
and received a BA (1990) from the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (Spain), and a master's degree
(1995) and PhD
(1997) from Emory University
(United States), under the supervision of Prof. Michael Tomasello
. From 1997 to 1999 he was a lecturer at the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Liverpool
(UK). Then in 1999 he moved to the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
in Leipzig
, Germany
where he is currently a senior scientist, co-founder and co-director of the Wolfgang Kohler Primate Research Centre.
Among other topics, Call has worked to identify the unique cognitive and cultural processes that distinguish humans from their nearest primate
relatives, the great apes
. He has published two books and nearly two hundred research articles and book chapters on the cognition and behavior of apes and other animals. He is currently the associate editor of the Journal of Comparative Psychology and a member of the editorial board of several other academic journals.
Comparative psychology
Comparative psychology generally refers to the scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of non-human animals. However, scientists from different disciplines do not always agree on this definition...
specializing in primate cognition
Primate cognition
Primate cognition is the study of the cognitive abilities of non-human primates. Humans are also primates but, traditionally, humans have been thought to be different from other animals...
. He was born in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and received a BA (1990) from the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (Spain), and a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
(1995) and PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
(1997) from Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
(United States), under the supervision of Prof. Michael Tomasello
Michael Tomasello
Michael Tomasello is an American developmentalpsychologist. He is a co-director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany.-Life:...
. From 1997 to 1999 he was a lecturer at the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
(UK). Then in 1999 he moved to the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
The Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology is a research institute based in Leipzig, Germany, founded in 1997. It is part of the Max Planck Society network....
in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
where he is currently a senior scientist, co-founder and co-director of the Wolfgang Kohler Primate Research Centre.
Among other topics, Call has worked to identify the unique cognitive and cultural processes that distinguish humans from their nearest primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
relatives, the great apes
Great Apes
Great Apes may refer to*Great apes, species in the biological family Hominidae, including humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans*Great Apes , a 1997 novel by Will Self...
. He has published two books and nearly two hundred research articles and book chapters on the cognition and behavior of apes and other animals. He is currently the associate editor of the Journal of Comparative Psychology and a member of the editorial board of several other academic journals.
Selected works
- Tomasello, M. & Call, J. (1997). Primate cognition. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Call, J. & Tomasello, M. (2007). The gestural communication of apes and monkeys. Manhaw NJ: LEA.
- Tomasello, M., Carpenter, M., Call, J., Behne, T. & Moll, H. (2005). Understanding and sharing intentions: The origins of cultural cognition. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 28, 1-17.
- Jensen, K., Call, J. & Tomasello, M. (2007). Chimpanzees are rational maximizers in an ultimatum game. Science, 318, 107-109.
- Call, J. & Tomasello, M. (2008). Does the chimpanzee have a theory of mind? 30 years later. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 12, 187-192.