What does a comparative animal psychologist do?

What is a Comparative Animal Psychologist?

Comparative animal psychologists are researchers who study the behavior, cognition, and emotions of animals. With a particular emphasis on comparing these processes across different species, and bridging the fields of psychology, biology, physiology, and ecology, they aim to uncover the evolutionary origins and adaptive functions of specific behaviors.

What does a Comparative Animal Psychologist do?

Duties and Responsibilities
The job of the comparative animal psychologist can span the following:

• Comparative Analysis – One of the primary goals of comparative animal psychology is to understand how behavior has evolved over time in response to environmental pressures and challenges. By studying a wide range of species, psychologists can identify patterns of behavior, similarities, and differences that have adaptive significance, referring to an organism’s non-genetic way of coping with the stressors of its environment.
• Research Design and Execution – Comparative animal psychologists design and conduct research using various methods such as observational studies, controlled experiments, and cognitive tests. This may involve studying animals in their natural habitats, in laboratories, or in controlled environments to investigate how different factors influence their behavior.
• Data Collection and Analysis – Comparative animal psychologists collect data on animal behavior, cognitive abilities, and emotional responses using systematic observations, experiments, interviews with animal caregivers and trainers, and other techniques. They ensure that data collection methods are consistent and standardized, and then analyze this data to draw conclusions about the factors influencing animal behavior and cognition.
• Application of Findings – The insights gained from comparative animal psychology can have practical applications in various fields, including animal welfare, conservation, and even human psychology. Understanding animal behavior can help improve the wellbeing of animals in captivity, inform conservation strategies, and provide insights into human cognition and emotion.
• Advocacy and Education – Comparative animal psychologists may engage in advocacy work to promote the ethical treatment of animals based on their cognitive and emotional capacities. They may also contribute to educational programs and training methods tailored to the behavioral and cognitive needs of animals.
• Collaboration and Meetings – Comparative animal psychologists may meet with research team members, collaborators, or students to discuss findings, plan future experiments, or brainstorm ideas for new research projects. Collaboration with colleagues from other disciplines, such as biology, ecology, or veterinary science, is common in this field.
• Literature Review and Writing – These psychologists may spend time writing research papers, reports, or grant proposals, and conducting literature reviews to support their research findings and contribute to scientific knowledge in the field.
• Animal Care and Welfare –They may be involved in the care and welfare of research animals, ensuring that they are housed, fed, and treated in accordance with ethical guidelines and animal welfare standards.

Types of Comparative Animal Psychologists
Now that we have a sense of the potential scope of the comparative animal psychologist’s work, let’s look at some different types of these psychologists, each specializing in specific areas of study, research methods, and applied settings within this interdisciplinary field:

• Behavioral Ecologists study the behavior of animals in their natural habitats, focusing on how environmental factors, social interactions, and ecological pressures influence behavior and adaptation.
• Cognitive Ethologists investigate the cognitive abilities of animals, such as problem-solving skills, memory, communication, and social learning. They often use experimental methods to assess cognitive processes in various animal species.
• Developmental Comparative Psychologists focus on the development of behavior and cognition across the lifespan, studying how behaviors and cognitive abilities change from birth to adulthood and how early experiences influence development.
• Applied Comparative Psychologist apply their knowledge and findings to real-world problems related to animal welfare, conservation, and human-animal interactions. They may work in zoos, wildlife conservation organizations, or animal training facilities to improve animal care, management, and conservation strategies.
• Neuroethologists study the neural mechanisms underlying animal behavior, investigating how the brain controls and influences behavior, cognition, and emotions. They often use techniques such as neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and pharmacology to explore brain-behavior relationships in animals.
• Social Psychologists focus on the social behavior and relationships of animals, studying topics such as dominance hierarchies, mating systems, social learning, and cooperation among group-living species.
• Comparative Animal Psychopharmacologists investigate the effects of drugs and medications on animal behavior and cognition, studying how pharmacological interventions can influence mood, learning, memory, and other psychological processes in animals.
• Zoological Psychologists work primarily with captive animals in zoos, aquariums, and research facilities, focusing on the behavioral and psychological needs of animals in captivity, enrichment strategies, and the welfare implications of captivity.
• Evolutionary Psychologists examine the evolutionary origins of behavior and cognition, investigating how natural selection and evolutionary processes have shaped the behavioral and cognitive adaptations of animals over time.
• Interdisciplinary Comparative Psychologists integrate knowledge and methodologies from multiple disciplines, such as biology, ecology, anthropology, and neuroscience, to study complex questions related to animal behavior, cognition, and welfare from a holistic perspective.

What is the workplace of a Comparative Animal Psychologist like?

Given the interdisciplinary nature of their work and the broad applicability of their expertise, comparative animal psychologists can work in a variety of settings across different sectors. These are among their most common employers:

• Academic Institutions – Comparative animal psychologists often work in universities and research institutions, where they conduct research, teach courses related to animal behavior, cognition, and welfare, and supervise graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
• Research Organizations – They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private research institutes focused on wildlife conservation, animal welfare, and behavioral research. These organizations often conduct research to inform conservation strategies, improve animal care practices, and advance scientific understanding of animal behavior and cognition.
• Zoos and Aquariums – Zoos, aquariums, and wildlife parks employ comparative animal psychologists to conduct research on captive animals, develop enrichment programs to enhance animal welfare, and train animal care staff on best practices for managing and interacting with animals in captivity.
• Veterinary Hospitals and Clinics – Some comparative animal psychologists work in veterinary settings, collaborating with veterinarians to address behavioral issues in companion animals, develop behavioral modification plans, and improve the wellbeing of animals in veterinary care.
• Government Agencies – Comparative animal psychologists may be employed by government departments and agencies responsible for wildlife management, conservation, and animal welfare to conduct research, develop policies and regulations, and provide expertise on animal behavior and welfare issues.
• Animal Training and Behavior Consulting Services – They may work as animal behavior consultants or trainers, providing services to pet owners, animal shelters, and working animal industries to address behavioral issues, develop training programs, and improve the human-animal bond.
• Conservation Organizations – Comparative animal psychologists may work for conservation organizations and non-profits focused on protecting endangered species and their habitats, conducting research to inform conservation strategies, monitoring the behavior and wellbeing of wild animal populations, and collaborating with local communities to promote coexistence and sustainable conservation practices.
• Educational and Outreach Organizations – They may work with outreach programs, museums, and nature centers, developing educational materials, delivering presentations and workshops, and engaging the public in learning about animal behavior, cognition, and conservation.
• Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies – Those specializing in comparative animal psychopharmacology may work for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, conducting research on the effects of drugs and medications on animal behavior and cognition, and contributing to the development of new treatments and interventions for behavioral and cognitive disorders in animals.
• Media and Publishing – Comparative animal psychologists may work as science communicators, writers, or editors for media outlets, publishing companies, and scientific journals, translating research findings into accessible and engaging content for the general public, students, and professionals in the field.

Based on the nature of their work and focus, comparative animal psychologists may transition between different settings. Laboratories and research facilities, field research sites, outdoor and remote locations, classrooms and lecture halls, offices, and conference settings are all potential work environments. In some roles, comparative animal psychologists may be required to travel domestically or internationally to project sites.