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The Relevance of Ethology

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Developmental Psychology and Society

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Abstract

Tinbergen (1963) defined ethology as ‘the biological study of behavior’ and, as such, its subject matter is much the same as that of psychology, though its perspective is rather different. From time to time this has led to sharp divisions of opinion between proponents of the two approaches, and the extent to which ethology is relevant to psychology and, in particular, to human behaviour is still a matter of debate. Before considering some of these issues in greater detail, I should like to make a few general comments on changing ideas within ethology and how these relate to the approaches and thinking of psychologists.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ethology and Neurophysiology Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex, England

    P. J. B. Slater

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  1. P. J. B. Slater
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Cultural and Community Studies, University of Sussex, UK

    John Sants (Reader in Developmental Psychology) (Reader in Developmental Psychology)

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Slater, P.J.B. (1980). The Relevance of Ethology. In: Sants, J. (eds) Developmental Psychology and Society. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-16331-1_4

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