What is Comparative Psychology?

Comparative psychology is the study of the behaviour and mental life of non-human animals

Comparative psychology should, but rarely does, involve the use of a comparative method in which similar studies are carried out on animals from different species.

There has been a recent reversal in its approach.

In the past researchers have looked to apply findings from animals to humans, but researchers are now taking principles uncovered in the study of human cognition and testing these principles on animals.

Summary

Comparative Psychology looks at animals.

It has helped us to understand basic learning and it has provided an insight into animal psychology

It has been accused of being unethical and lacking in generalisability to humans.