Introduction to Animal Behavior

Rating:
Summary: text for psych majors
Review: I have taught a college-level Animal Behavior class for 15 years. Because I teach in a Psych Dept, not a Bio Dept, I have always had trouble finding a text that my students could easily relate to. I am now going to switch to this text. Yes, it is presented at a very easy, accessable level: there are no detailed charts or diagrams or in-depth analyses, and it is HALF the length of my current text. But compared to other texts, it covers more mammals (fewer invertebrates) and has an entire section devoted to primates- including a chapter on evolutionary psychology. I have found that Psych students, most of whom want to go into counseling of some sort and have never had an Intro Bio class, have no proper background for the more advanced texts and are intimidated by them. I believe this text will attract more students who are otherwise scared of science; I would rather have them take the class than not take it! I can always supplement in the classroom. Furthermore, I do not agree with the other reviewer that the author contradicts himself or that he makes mistakes.

Rating:
Summary: text for psych majors
Review: I have taught a college-level Animal Behavior class for 15 years. Because I teach in a Psych Dept, not a Bio Dept, I have always had trouble finding a text that my students could easily relate to. I am now going to switch to this text. Yes, it is presented at a very easy, accessable level: there are no detailed charts or diagrams or in-depth analyses, and it is HALF the length of my current text. But compared to other texts, it covers more mammals (fewer invertebrates) and has an entire section devoted to primates- including a chapter on evolutionary psychology. I have found that Psych students, most of whom want to go into counseling of some sort and have never had an Intro Bio class, have no proper background for the more advanced texts and are intimidated by them. I believe this text will attract more students who are otherwise scared of science; I would rather have them take the class than not take it! I can always supplement in the classroom. Furthermore, I do not agree with the other reviewer that the author contradicts himself or that he makes mistakes.

Rating:
Summary: A high school text book
Review: This 'text' is a horrible assessment of animal behavior. It attempts to cover all aspects of the subject matter, but contridicts itself throughout. This is truly a first edition. The author, editor, and publisher must have been in a rush to produce this. It reads as a high school text book in that it touches upon a bunch of subjects and studies, but never explains them. This is an amateur attempt at describing animal behavior, not to mention that this book is extremely overpriced. Don't waste your time or money on this worthless publication.

Rating:
Summary: A high school text book
Review: This 'text' is a horrible assessment of animal behavior. It attempts to cover all aspects of the subject matter, but contridicts itself throughout. This is truly a first edition. The author, editor, and publisher must have been in a rush to produce this. It reads as a high school text book in that it touches upon a bunch of subjects and studies, but never explains them. This is an amateur attempt at describing animal behavior, not to mention that this book is extremely overpriced. Don't waste your time or money on this worthless publication.