Comparative Psychology Studies Quiz

Comparative Psychology

• Focuses on the gaining of knowledge, specifically how animals acquire, process, and use information to adapt to their environment.

Animal Behavior

• Orientation is a key aspect of animal behavior studied by comparative psychologists, which involves the ability of animals to locate and move towards specific stimuli or objectives.

Developmental Psychology

• Primarily studies human development across the lifespan, including cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Maturational Theory

• Supported by Arnold Gesell, who found a set developmental pattern in children's behavior, emphasizing the role of maturation, especially of the nervous system.

Developmental Theories

• Four main theories used by psychologists to research child behavior:
  • Maturational theory (emphasizes the role of biological maturation)
  • Environmental theory (emphasizes the role of environment and experience)
  • Interactional theory (emphasizes the interaction between biology and environment)
  • Constructivist theory (emphasizes the active role of the child in constructing their own knowledge)

Reproductive Behavior

• In animals, entails the entire range of behaviors involved in producing offspring, including courtship, mating, parental care, and so on.

Developmental Psychology Focus

• Many specialists focus on studying the cognitive, social, and emotional development of children, as well as the various factors that influence their development.