Comparative Psychology

The branch of psychology concerned with the scientific study of the behavior of humans, animals, and living beings such as bacteria and plants. This discipline places special emphasis on comparative methods that examine the differences and similarities between humans and other animals that may provide information about developmental processes and evolutionary relationships. Comparative methods are also employed to compare modern animal species with ancient animal species. Comparative psychology was recognized as a differentiated discipline in 1994 under the name of “physiological psychology and comparative psychology” by Division 6 of the American Psychological Association (currently known as the division of behavioral neuroscience and comparative psychology). One of the main goals of comparative psychology is to attain a broader and deeper understanding of human behavior through research on animal behavior. Some instances in which research on animal behavior has shed light on human behavior include Ivan Pavlov's discovery of classical conditioning through the study of the digestive system of dogs and Harry Harlow's research on maternal deprivation in rhesus monkeys. Some topics frequently studied in comparative psychology include heredity, mating and parenting behavior in primates, and evolution. The work of Charles Darwin and George Romanes (frequently considered the father of comparative psychology) mark the beginning of modern research in animal behavior. Since the 1990s, comparative psychologyhas integrated the study of animal cognition by taking the principles of human cognition and testing them in animals. This new line of study has provided rich information about cognitive abilities in animals, such as learning and memory. For more information, see Tobach (2006).