Comparative Perspectives on Temperament and Personality in Human and Nonhuman Animals

Abstract

The number of animal temperament and/or personality studies has undergone a marked increase in recent years. Once studied predominantly by psychologists, animal personality is now examined by researchers in a wide range of fields, including neuroscience, agricultural science, and behavioral management. Further, individual differences in personality have been found in species ranging from insects to fish to birds to nonhuman and human primates. The breadth of these studies underscores the importance of this trait. Studies of animal personality can provide insight into the relation between human personality and health outcomes. Such studies can also be used to help us better care for animals in captivity. In this chapter, I review studies of personality and temperament across the animal kingdom. I compare some of the tests commonly used to assess personality across various animal groups. Finally, I discuss some of the current research in animal personality, with a focus on translational and applied research.