Comparative psychology: origin, development and analysis

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Psychology is a science that includes a large number of constituent disciplines that differ from each other in the direct directions of interests, tasks and goals. The common, unifying factor is the subject of study - these are patterns in the functioning, development, and, of course, in the emergence of processes of mental activity. One such discipline is comparative psychology.

On the nuances in the name of science

The original name of the discipline is of English origin - "comparative psychology". This term is translated into Russian in two versions. The first is zoopsychology. And comparative psychology is the second. Accordingly, these concepts are not just similar, they are completely similar, since they denote the same scientific discipline.

However, not all scientists adhere to this version. Somespecialists share these names, giving each of them a narrow specific meaning. In other words, animal psychology deals with the behavior of animals. And comparative psychology, accordingly, studies the similarities and differences between the behavioral and thought processes of humans and animals.

But the original English name of the discipline, which originated in the USA, is not divided into two variants, like science itself. Accordingly, these names should be considered as synonyms.

What is this? Definition

Comparative psychology is a scientific discipline that deals with the origin, formation, development and other patterns in the behavior and consciousness of animals and people.

What is the difference from other related disciplines? The main thing is that this science examines the similarities and differences in the mental activity of people and animals, compares them.

What is analysis in this science? What is it based on?

Comparative analysis in the psychology of this species is to identify relationships, similarities and differences between humans and animals. It is based on data on the higher nervous activity of representatives of the animal world obtained in the course of special studies. And, of course, based on similar information about the processes of people's mental activity.

But the analysis is not limited to these initial data. Any comparative research in psychology of this type is carried out taking into account the historical and social features of development that determine the key differences in the higher nervous activity of people and animals.

In other words, the analysis in this scientific discipline is aimed at finding commonalities and opposites in phylo- and ontogenesis. Of course, all known factors of historical development that affected the formation of the human mind and the emergence of such features as intelligible speech, upright posture, complex social organization, labor activity, and others are taken into account.

How did this science come about? Origin and formation

Comparative psychology originated in the century before last. The scientific direction began to experience active development and rise after the publication of Charles Darwin's theory of the origin of man. At the same time, the discipline finally took shape and became an independent science.

Until the beginning of the last century, it was perceived as a discipline dealing with evolutionary processes in the psyche of both animals and humans, with an emphasis on identifying mutual similarities and drawing analogies.

Gradually, in the course of the formation of this scientific discipline, the so-called "objectivist approach" gained the advantage. Its supporters adhered to the position of excluding the term "animal psyche" from research. Because the term sounds wrong. In their opinion, only the behavioral nuances of representatives of the world of fauna could be considered by comparative psychology. The textbook for students was also not supposed to contain any mention of the relevant animal processes. Limited only by such terms as "nervous activity", "habits" and others. As a basis for such an approachit was argued that it was impossible to obtain objective data about the mental processes of animals.

This approach remained dominant until the end of the seventies of the last century. However, it was not shared by all scientists whose field of activity was zoopsychology. And comparative psychology, on which a textbook for universities was published in the Soviet Union, represented by such specialists as N. N. Ladygina, adheres to the position that animals have consciousness.

Nuances of the development of science. Features of perception in America and Europe

In the Old and New Worlds, there is a somewhat different understanding of what this science is and does. Although the differences in the views of scientists are not particularly significant, nevertheless they often become the cause of various misunderstandings and errors among university students and those who are simply interested in this subject.

In the Old World, both in Western Europe and in Eastern Europe, there was an understanding that comparative psychology deals with issues related to general anthropogenesis. That is, experts study and compare differences and similarities among themselves. What helps them understand the nuances and features of the historical course of anthropogenesis.

Accordingly, in the Old World the subject of comparative psychology is the ratio of the characteristics of the processes occurring in the minds of people and animals, as well as other factors. That is, comparison, which is also the main method of cognition.

In the New World, however, this scientific discipline focuses onknowledge of the characteristics of animal behavior, without leaving the framework of science. The founders of the American concept of "comparative psychology" are such scientists: E. Thorndike and R. Yerkes. The specifics of the development of science in the New World were seriously influenced by behaviorism, which is characterized by extreme simplicity and objectivity. This is expressed in the general concept of "stimulus leads to a reaction."

Of course, in the US, they are not limited to studying the behavioral reactions of animals. The tasks of zoopsychology and comparative psychology in this country are such that they are not alien to the elucidation of the relationships between the types and processes of the higher nervous activity of animals and people. However, the behavioral stereotypes of representatives of the fauna are considered as a basic basis that explains a number of reflexes and reactions of people. Research work was carried out mainly in laboratory conditions, with experimental animals. For this reason, comparative analysis in the US has practically "vanished".

What is the essence of this science?

This section of psychology is not only about comparing the characteristics of people and representatives of the fauna. Although, without a doubt, comparative analysis and the identification of both correlations and differences are fundamental in this discipline.

The essence of the work of scientists is not only in finding similarities or differences, but also in finding out exactly how the process of evolution of human consciousness went. In other words, in determining those factors that determined the development processesconsciousness of people.

Learning the term "comparative psychology". Interpretations in dictionaries

This science is one of the branches of psychology. And this name is formed from two Greek words:

• "psyche", which means "soul";
• "logos", which translates as "teaching".

A specific feature of the scientific section under consideration, according to the interpretation given in I. Kondakov's Dictionary of Psychological Terms, is that experts study evolutionary processes in the psyche.

The Oxford University Dictionary of Psychological Terms gives a slightly different meaning to the name of this science. According to him, this is a science that studies behavioral patterns and stereotypes, reflexes characteristic of representatives of the fauna world. The purpose of these studies is to identify commonalities and differences. The results of the work of scientists are used in zoology, ethology, physiology and other disciplines.

What is the main topic of study of scientists of this science?

The tasks of comparative psychology are often understood in different ways. On the one hand, the main theme of the studies of scientists is clear from the name of the discipline. This is a comparison of the processes of mental activity of people and animals.

However, the tasks facing scientists involved in this area of psychology are much broader than a simple comparison. Key messages are as follows:

• determining and understanding the principles of the psyche of animals;
• analysis of issues related to the processes of anthropogenesisand the formation of human consciousness;
• study of phylo- and ontogeny;
• revealing patterns and stereotypes in mental activity;
• knowledge of acquired and innate features of the functioning of the psyche.

Particular attention in solving the problems facing specialists in this science is given to methods of comparative analysis of the mental activity of people and animals. As a rule, the functioning of the psyche in children and primates is compared.

What are the applied challenges facing scientists?

Regardless of the scientific field specialists work in, in addition to the main, main tasks, they invariably face additional, applied ones. Of course, this scientific discipline is no exception.

An additional task facing scientists is to conduct such studies, the results of which could be used practically. Scientific data in demand:

• in psychotherapeutic and developmental methods;
• in economic and household areas;
• in environmental issues.

According to Vygotsky's thesis, in the modern world, the psyche and behavior are seen as the result of a long process of evolution. Accordingly, the research of scientists can be useful in all areas and industries related to evolution, the history of the origin of life and others similar.

What is the object of research? What exactly are they studying?

The object of comparative psychology is higher nervous activitypeople and animals. In other words, the subject for study is consciousness. Or the psyche and its manifestations.

Under the psyche is understood not only the activity of consciousness, the mind, but also the peculiarities of the perception of environmental conditions, allowing the body to adapt to them, to adequately respond. In other words, the psyche, as a subject of study in this science, is not only higher nervous activity, manifested in complex feelings, but also elementary reactions expressed by simple sensations.

The subjects in this section of psychology are representatives of the world of fauna and people.

What are mind and behavior? Definitions

Psyche is a term that has more than one meaning, it is understood in different ways, depending on the general context and, of course, the direction of interests of a particular scientific discipline.

The first and dominant definition of this term is that the psyche is nothing but the highest form of reflection and perception of objective reality. This is how this property is understood in Lenin's theory.

The second definition positions mental activity as a property of highly developed organic matter. This means that the term is understood more broadly. That is, this property, due to the presence of which living organisms are able to respond to the stimuli surrounding them and natural conditions.

According to the third definition given to the psyche by A. N. Leontiev, it is an integral property of living and highly organized subjects, manifested in the reflectiontheir own state of reality. Although this interpretation of the term at first glance seems complicated, it is actually quite simple. We are talking about the correspondence of the state of a living organism to the surrounding conditions of objective reality, which does not depend on actions, behavior or expressions of will, wishes.

In whatever aspect such a property as the psyche is considered, it is inseparable from behavior. It also means the totality of reactions, reflexes and other types of activity of living organisms that are visible to others.

What is meant by analysis in this science?

Comparative analysis is a technique for studying something, in the application of which several subjects are studied. Of course, the purpose of research is to find similarities and differences between them in the area to which a particular analysis relates.

This technique is very widespread and is used in almost all scientific fields. In the same discipline, analysis is limited to the mental activity and behavior of the subjects of study.