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The Innovation Arena: A Method for Comparing Innovative Problem-Solving Across Groups

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Does comparative cognition have a WEIRD problem?

Kristin Andrews¹, Susana Monsó²

¹Department of Philosophy, York University.

Journal of Comparative Psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983)

|June 12, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers identified WEIRD-centrism, a bias favoring Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) human norms in comparative cognition. Mitigating this bias requires a multi-baseline approach and conceptual engineering for cross-species understanding.

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Area of Science:

Comparative cognition
Cross-species psychology
Cultural bias in research

Background:

WEIRD-centrism is an unrecognized bias in comparative cognition research.
This bias prioritizes the norms and behaviors of Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) populations as the standard.
It influences the study of practices, capacities, and concepts across species.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify and describe WEIRD-centrism in comparative cognition.
To propose methods for mitigating this cultural bias in research.
To enhance the understanding of interspecies similarities and differences.

Main Methods:

Conceptual analysis of research biases.
Proposal of a multi-baseline approach using non-human species as starting points.
Application of philosophical analysis and conceptual engineering to define psychological capacities.

Main Results:

WEIRD-centrism is a significant, yet unacknowledged, bias affecting comparative cognition.
The multi-baseline approach offers a framework to decenter human-centric perspectives.
Conceptual engineering aids in defining and comparing psychological capacities across diverse species.

Conclusions:

Addressing WEIRD-centrism is crucial for advancing comparative cognition.
A multi-baseline and conceptual engineering approach can lead to more objective cross-species comparisons.
These methods promote a nuanced understanding of cognitive diversity within and between species.