PSYC 348 Comparative Psychology: Principles of Animal Behavior

The purpose of this course is to provide a balanced modern perspective on animal behavior. Comparative Psychology is the psychological investigation of the similarities and differences of animal species, including humans. Students will explore the key themes and classic studies, as well as the overarching theories, such as evolutionary theory, ethology, comparative cognition and behaviorism. A focus will be on the psychology and behavior within the topical areas of social behavior (e.g. altruism, mating and reproductive behavior, communication and aggression), ecological behavior (e.g. habitat selection, territoriality, adaptation and predatory behavior), and neurobiological behavior (e.g. nervous system, hormones, and neural command and control). Special attention will also be given to social organization and animal learning. There are three primary goals of this course: 1) Develop an understanding of the biological bases of animal behavior including humans, 2) Develop an understanding of the ways in which the environment and evolution shape human and animal behavior, 3) Gain an appreciation for the similarities and differences to humans in the ways in which animals communicate, learn, and solve the day to day problems of living.

Prerequisites

• PSYC 100: General Psychology