comparative psychology

Branch of psychology concerned with differences in the behaviour of various animal species; also the study of animal psychology in general. The most important area of research has been that of learning, covering topics such as conditioning, behaviourism, and the effects of reward and punishment on performance.

The effects of various drugs on psychological processes and behaviour has also been an important area of study, as has maternal behaviour and interactions between mothers and offspring, particularly in mammals, together with the insights gained in our understanding of infant development. A number of experimental techniques are used, including research under laboratory conditions and field studies where the behaviour of animals is observed under natural conditions.