Comparative psychology

Is the branch of psychology concerned with the study of animal behavior. Modern
research on animal behavior began with the work of Charles Darwin and Georges Romanes and
the field has grown into a multidisciplinary subject.

Cross-cultural psychology

Is a branch of psychology that looks at how cultural factors influence human behavior.
While many aspects of human thought and behavior are universal, cultural differences can lead
to often surprising differences in how people think, feel, and act. Some cultures, for example,
might stress individualism and the importance of personal autonomy. Other cultures, however,
may place a higher value on collectivism and cooperation among members of the group.

Such differences can play a powerful role in many aspects of life.

Cross-cultural psychology is also emerging as an increasingly important topic as

researchers strive to understand both the differences and similarities among people of various
cultures throughout the world. The International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology
(IACCP) was established in 1972, and this branch of psychology has continued to grow and
develop since that time. Today, increasing numbers of psychologists investigate how behavior
differs among various cultures throughout the world.

Developmental psychology

Is the scientific study of how and why human beings change over the course of their life.
Originally concerned with infants and children, the field has expanded to include adolescence,
adult development, aging, and the entire lifespan.

Developmental psychology is a scientific approach which aims to explain growth, change

and consistency though the lifespan. Developmental psychology looks at how thinking, feeling,
and behavior change throughout a person’s life.
A significant proportion of theories within this discipline focus upon development during
childhood, as this is the period during an individual's lifespan when the most change occurs.
Developmental psychologists study a wide range of theoretical areas, such as biological,
social, emotion, and cognitive processes. Empirical research in this area tends to be dominated
by psychologists from Western cultures such as North American and Europe, although during
the 1980s Japanese researchers began making a valid contribution to the field.