PSYC2289 · Psychology

Comparative Psychology: Study of Animal Behavior

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

This course is a survey of animal behavior from the psychologist's perspective. The methods and aims of comparative psychology are presented as we consider how and why psychologists should study animal behavior. All species are faced with fundamental problems such as navigating in their environment, finding food and water, defending against predators, communicating with conspecifics, attracting a mate, and learning and remembering information. The course will examine the very different strategies that various species, including humans, have evolved for solving these problems, and discuss reasons why these different kinds of strategies have evolved.