NDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN ANIMAL AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR: A COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH

Abstract

The article considers the problem of individual differences in the behavior of animals and humans from the perspective of comparative and differential psychology. Attention is drawn to the fact that despite the general species similarity of behavioral reactions, both in animals and in humans, significant individual variations are observed, which have both biological and psychological foundations. Parameters such as temperament, level of anxiety, ability to learn, social behavior, reaction to novelty, which manifest themselves in different individuals regardless of the species, are analyzed. It is shown that individuality is not only a human characteristic, but has evolutionary origins observed in the behavior of animals.The comparative psychological approach allows us to trace hereditary, neuropsychological and environmental factors that influence the formation of a unique behavioral profile of an individual.Hypotheses regarding the functional significance of individual differences for the survival of the species are considered.Particular attention is paid to research in the field of zoopsychology, which demonstrates the presence of personality characteristics in animals – such as courage, aggressiveness, curiosity. At the same time, approaches of differential psychology to the study of individual differences in people are considered – through the prism of cognitive styles, temperament types and the motivational sphere.The comparative psychological approach allows not only to identify parallels between species, but also to better understand the nature of individual behavioral characteristics in an evolutionary context. Such an interdisciplinary analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of the universal and specific mechanisms of adaptation, self-regulation and interaction with the environment in different living beings.The article is aimed at integrating evolutionary knowledge into the understanding of personality psychology.