Can Comparative Psychology Help Us Understand Humans Better?

Animals sometimes act in ways that are interesting, and we as humans tend to study them in order to better understand certain phenomena. In many ways, understanding the behavior of animals can help us understand humans and the world better. Below, we’ll discuss animal psychology and how we can use it to make helpful comparisons to people and different environments.

What is animal psychology?

One of the goals of this science is to examine the differences, or even the lack thereof, among different animals, and from different angles, such as investigating how disparities are established and what is considered "normal" behavior for an animal. 

Toward the end of the 19th century, most biologists and other scientists studying animals believed that humans were the only species with cognitive and emotional capacities. Charles Darwin, Edward Thorndike, and Charles Henry Turner were among the first scientists to challenge this belief.  For example, by studying animals and their behavior, Charles Henry Turner found that other species—his research focused on spiders and insects—have cognitive capabilities. Though these ideas were widely debated at the time, we know now that animals can perform tasks like completing simple problem-solving puzzles. 

Studying animal psychology can help us understand variations in behavior in humans and non-human animals. For example, non-human animals can communicate with one another through innate sounds, while humans can use non-fixed symbols, with meanings that can change based on context. 

To become an animal psychologist, coursework in both psychology-related fields and hard sciences (e.g., biology, anatomy) is often required. Animal psychologists usually receive a bachelor’s degree in psychology, followed by a doctoral psychology degree or master’s degree through specific degree programs. Once in the workforce, animal psychologists may examine animal behavior in nature reserves, zoos, and other animal parks. They may also work in centers for shelter animals, academic settings, and animal training centers. 

If you’re considering pursuing a career in animal psychology, it can help to utilize the resources and guidance provided by professional organizations. The following organizations support the study of animal behavior and comparative psychology: 

• Society for Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology

• International Society for Comparative Psychology

• Association for the Study of Animal Behavior

• International Council of Ethologists

• Animal Behavior Society

Depending on the career path of an animal psychologist, job duties may involve conducting research projects (e.g., overseeing environmental studies), addressing behavioral challenges in domestic animals (e.g., observing behavioral traits of specific dog breeds), or helping create safe conditions for working animals (e.g., redesigning enclosures for domesticated animals). Animal psychologists are specifically trained to observe animal behavior, for example, how a dog responds to certain situations, including loss, happiness, or something they can't control that makes them upset. 

We can look at such behaviors and then question whether the trait persists across different breeds or animal species, or even through evolution. We can also observe animals to determine how that animal’s behavior helps them when chasing prey, social bonding, or navigating aggressive situations. Animal psychology may help us determine which traits are conducive for survival and which ones are less viable. Understanding animal behavior may promote animal welfare and lead to new insights in human behavior.

Cognitive animal or comparative psychology

Cognitive animal psychology (CAP) focuses on the cognitive actions, or thought processes, of animals that aren't humans. Behaviors within this domain may include the ability of animals to pay attention, create and organize principles, and even learn from a parental figure or think in abstract ways. An animal psychologist can often carry out these investigations at a neurological level, and their findings often help us better understand the origins of animal behaviors.

Outcomes of CAP research often extend toward humans. There is a debate about whether cognitive animal psychology has some significance in the realm of philosophical knowledge. Findings often elicit the controversial question as to whether non-human animals can be considered “conscious.” If a non-human animal has a concept of itself, the definition of what it means to be a human may be called in to question. There is some academic research that points to the potential for a non-human species to engage in something called metacognition, which is essentially a sort of consciousness and higher level of awareness.

The debate as to whether non-humans have the ability to “think about their own thinking” is a core philosophical component of animal psychology. If more corroborating evidence is found to support greater consciousness levels in non-human animals, the distinctions between humans and non-human animals might become blurred.

Promoting animal welfare through comparative psychology

Animal psychologists can help promote animal welfare in widely varying ways. Comparative psychologists can work to develop treatments and enrichment programs for animals alongside other scientists and professionals. A psychologist may also specialize in the effects of human behavior on animals. Such a professional may focus on improving the conditions at animal parks or understanding how human beings can better coexist with cats, dogs, and other domestic animals.

These areas of study may intersect with our understanding of how humans act as well. According to researchers in one study, “Resource use by a growing human population is a significant driver of biodiversity loss, so conservation scientists need to be interested in the factors that motivate human behaviour”. Current research is helping us understand how natural selection may influence not only the physiological characteristics of animals but also their behavioral traits. This could be a crucial factor in animal survival during significant changes in climate. Future studies can help us understand how such behaviors may be passed on. 

How can comparative psychology help us understand ourselves?

Animal research may improve animal welfare and also provide insights into human behavior. At some point, you likely have seen a documentary about wild animals and their idiosyncrasies. Penguins marching over 100 km, bats using echolocation to search for prey in the nighttime, and birds of paradise engaging in elaborate mating rituals are just a few behaviors we may find intriguing and impressive. Other familiar examples of animal behavior include the following:

• Using problem-solving skills

• Manipulating tools

• Acting out emotions

• Taking care of younger animals

In many scenarios, it’s hard not to conceptualize animals as being smart, emotional, and even altruistic, like humans can be.

While it may be tempting to focus on our uniqueness as humans, just because humans possess a specific trait does not mean it is unique to the human race. For example, being vocal and learning through vocal cues often feels like a uniquely human trait because humans can use sounds that form letters and words to communicate. However, parrots, songbirds, dolphins, and seals use similar types of learning, so vocal learning is generally not considered unique to humans.

Such similarities allow us to look at evolution to understand how vocal learning, a trait we typically associate with humans, applies to other animals and how the overall trend applies to human evolution. 

Many animals produce innate signals that are meant to convey information; for example, songbirds and seals sing out songs to create mating calls to meet with other animals to copulate. Additionally, species like apes have been shown to use innate signals in social relationships. Also, bees and pigs can act "pessimistically" when anticipating a bad situation. Humans do that as well, such as when they possess a negative mood. While what the animals experience is not specifically clear, the finding itself may provide insight as to why humans may respond to negative experiences in the same way that other animals do. Increasing caution after an experience goes wrong may have been an evolutionary adaptation that we inherited to survive.

Many people speculate that humans are unique, and we do have some unique traits. But research shows we have many similar characteristics to other animals. Thinking about those comparisons may compel us to look at ourselves more deeply and ask ourselves what we have in common with animals and what it is that makes us human. For example, just as humans learn from adult members of communal groups, animals in the natural world learn by imitating adult members of their social group. Animal psychology endeavors to dig deeper than investigations into how a dog responds to a bad situation, or even how bees and pigs act pessimistically; rather, it's about how humans can relate to these behaviors.

Reasons for inexplicable or confusing behaviors

Sometimes, we may notice humans acting differently than other humans act. While some of the reasons for these differences may be cultural or societal, other behaviors may raise concerns. For example, some humans have developed irrational fears of certain objects or situations, while others have difficulty overcoming addictions. Still others feel consumed with obsessive thoughts that they feel compelled to act upon. If you are experiencing certain thoughts or behaviors that feel concerning or alarming, you deserve to seek answers.

One option is to talk to a therapist, who may be able to help you understand what exactly makes you unique and help you learn to harness those unique traits. If you feel hesitant to see a therapist in office, you might try online therapy. There are many advantages to online therapy over in-person therapy; specifically, you can schedule an online appointment from the comfort of a preferred space, as you can connect with a therapist by phone, live chat, video chat, or in-app messaging.

Online therapy has proven to be an effective treatment method for various mental health conditions and their related symptoms. Many evidence-based therapy methods can be practiced online, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), in which a psychotherapist supports clients in recognizing how distorted thinking patterns are related to feelings and behaviors. 

In one analysis of controlled trials of online CBT, researchers found online CBT to be an effective and viable alternative to face-to-face treatment. Participants experienced reductions in symptoms related to depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, substance use disorders, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.