The social competence model for dogs proposed by Ádám Miklósi and József Topál in 2013 emphasizes the importance of social cognition in understanding the behavior of dogs, particularly in their interactions with humans. The model suggests that dogs have evolved specific cognitive skills to communicate and cooperate with humans effectively.
The social competence model is built on four main components:
- Attachment: Dogs form strong bonds with their human caregivers, similar to the attachment observed between human infants and their caregivers. This attachment is thought to be crucial for the development of effective communication and cooperation between dogs and humans.
- Social learning: Dogs are capable of learning from humans through various forms of social learning, such as imitation, observational learning, and local enhancement. This social learning ability allows dogs to acquire new skills and behaviors by observing and interacting with humans.
- Communication: Dogs have developed a range of communicative signals and gestures to interact with humans, such as barking, whining, and various body postures. They are also adept at understanding human communicative cues, like pointing gestures, gaze direction, and vocal cues.
- Cooperation: Dogs are known to cooperate with humans in various tasks, such as herding, hunting, and search and rescue missions. This cooperative behavior is believed to be an important aspect of the unique relationship between dogs and humans.
The social competence model highlights the importance of considering the social cognitive abilities of dogs when studying their behavior and interactions with humans. This perspective has led to a better understanding of the complex relationship between dogs and humans and has informed training methods, welfare practices, and research on dog cognition.
By incorporating all these components, the social competence model provides a comprehensive framework to study the various dimensions of dog-human interactions. This model has been influential in guiding research on dog cognition and has contributed to our understanding of how dogs have adapted to living in human environments.
Researchers continue to explore and expand upon the social competence model, as it provides a valuable tool for investigating the intricate social dynamics between dogs and humans and the underlying cognitive processes that enable these relationships to thrive.
Further reading
- Miklósi, Á., & Topál, J. (2013). What does it take to become ‘best friends’? Evolutionary changes in canine social competence. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 17(6), 287-294.
- Hare, B., & Tomasello, M. (2005). Human-like social skills in dogs? Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 9(9), 439-444.
- Kaminski, J., & Marshall-Pescini, S. (Eds.). (2014). The Social Dog: Behavior and Cognition. Academic Press.
