I did a science experiment on Kitty today. I won't attach a photo of the electrodes in her brain.
By The Horse
@TheHorse (205696)
Walnut Creek, California
November 20, 2020 1:33pm CST
As you know, I'm a frustrated researcher. I was trained in psychological research, but have spent most of my career teaching college students and working in clinical settings with troubled children.
Today, I decided to do an experiment on Kitty. She has been asking me for something, but I can't tell what. I decided to see if catnip would satisfy her needs. My friend has been growing some, next to his other herbs, and she has enjoyed it when I gave it to her.
As some of you know, child psychologist Jean Piaget did research on "object permanence." His basic question: At what age do young children understand that an object continues to exist, even when you cannot see it? Most children have "object permanence" by the age of 2-years-old.
I decided to test kitty on her "catnip permanence." She was lying by my recently repaired Sherwood S-7100A stereo receiver, but seemed restless. So I broke off some catnip (in my fridge), let her smell it, and then placed it next to her food bowl, outside. She could NOT see me as I placed the catnip next to her outside food bowl.
Would her kitty brain remember that I had catnip, form a mental image of me going outside, and find the catnip? Does Kitty have "catnip permanence"? What is your guess (hypothesis)?
Note: No electrodes were involved in this experiment. I was just kidding.
11 people like this
10 responses
@LindaOHio (156056)
• United States
20 Nov 20
She might go looking for it; but I go along with The Sojourner's answer. I'll read about it in the journals.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (205696)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Nov 20
@LindaOHio The humanity! She found the catnip within 30 seconds.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (156056)
• United States
20 Nov 20
@TheHorse I know your real name. Ha, ha, ha.
3 people like this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
21 Nov 20
A fellow psychologist!
Good day to you sir and good luck with your experiments!
2 people like this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
22 Nov 20
@TheHorse I only get to practice it when I try to piss people off which is almost every time.
Kidding!
I have background in both clinical and industrial psychology.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205696)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Nov 20
@allen0187 I have taken a lot of classes in Clinical Psychology. What I call "Active Listening" is one of my "secret weapons." But I am curious about Industrial Psychology. What does it encompass?
@marguicha (215389)
• Chile
20 Nov 20
We´d have to learn about the sense of smell on cats. I know that Luna smells at a londer distance than me and that it is not because I was a smoker for many years or because I have COVID
3 people like this
@Fleura (29127)
• United Kingdom
20 Nov 20
I'm not sure that's really testing object permanence, since you have moved the object. The simplest test is to show her the catnip then cover it with something and see if she looks for it. I'm sure she would. However if you've shown it to her and then taken it away and put it somewhere different that isn't really the same test. And if she finds it you won't have any way of knowing whether she was actually looking for it or just happened to stumble across it when going to her food bowl.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (205696)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Nov 20
Heh.I have done extensive calculations about the time it takes her to go from "almost-nap position to "at her bowl" position. I timed how long it took her to find her bowl and the catnip. What journal should I publish my results in? "Journal of Cat Studies"?
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95136)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Nov 20
I dont think it will take her long as she will smell it.
1 person likes this
@Namelesss (3368)
• United States
20 Nov 20
I'll have to wait for you to publish for this answer. I still have issues with object permanence myself. I have money in my pocket, I go to the store, where's the money?
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
21 Nov 20
i was an ed psych major for my masters. i remember piaget and his many ideas.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
21 Nov 20
@TheHorse IU school of ed was a big Piaget and Maslow school