| Abstract: | "An immense body of literature bearing upon plant and animal behavior has been in process of accumulation during the past half-century. Much of this material has appeared in botanical, physiological, and other biological journals in various languages and hence is not readily accessible to the comparative psychologist. Numerous facts of importance often occur in periodical sources where anything of the sort would be least suspected. Some years ago the present authors began the laborious task of collecting and abstracting this material with the aim of preparing a comprehensive survey of the behavior of all infrahuman organisms. The difficult task of systematic arrangement and critical evaluation has now been completed and this exhaustive study will appear under the title of Comparative Psychology. This volume, written throughout by the senior author, may be regarded as an abridged and simplified edition of this larger and more detailed work. The arrangement of the chapters as well as the topical divisions within each chapter are precisely the same. Condensation has been achieved by a careful selection of the most pertinent and typical material relating to the several topics. In some instances controversial questions have been briefly treated, the reader being referred to the larger work for the detailed experimental evidence. Long reference bibliographies have been replaced throughout by short lists of selected items suitable for reading assignments. The use of technical terms has been reduced as much as possible in order to render the style more acceptable to the average student. This abridgment thus provides a general and interpretative survey of the field of comparative psychology for those who may find the larger work too difficult or detailed. The present volume is intended to serve as a textbook for courses in comparative psychology, genetic psychology, and psychobiology. It should be found useful as a reference work in connection with courses in beginning psychology, physiological psychology, and various other special fields"--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved) |
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