Development of comparative psychology in Japan: 1900-1949

Abstract

After evaluating the history of comparative or animal psychology in Japan, a development over the past 150 years, four distinct generations of comparative psychologists can be discerned in terms of their active involvement in the field. The zero generation, spanning the second half of the 19th century, was marked by the import of Darwinian evolutionary theory, which was implemented especially through lectures by Edward S. Morse. The first generation appeared in the early 20th century, with Koreshige Masuda heralded as the foremost comparative psychologist during this time. The 1.5-generation researchers were influenced by Gestalt psychology, which had been developed in Europe. The second generation emerged after World War II with the arrival of neobehavioristic psychology. Originated in the U. S., it was studied by comparative psychologists such as C. L. Hull and B. F. Skinner, who considerably influenced Japan's post-war generation. The third generation of comparative psychologists in Japan took root in the 1980s and was characterized by studies of cognitive process. Due to space limitations, the zero and first generations are solely detailed here.