Associative symmetry: a divide between humans and nonhumans?

Abstract

Anthropocentrism can bias scientific conclusions. As a case study, we challenge the 40-year-old associative symmetry dogma, supposed to cognitively set apart humans from other species. Out of 37 human studies surveyed, only three truly demonstrate symmetry, of which only one (on five participants) suggests that symmetry is spontaneously formed.

Keywords: Sidman equivalence; animals; backward associations; comparative cognition; language, anthropocentrism.