ANIMALS AS SOCIAL BEINGS

by Adolf Portmann ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 24, 1961

How do organisms of the same species find and recognize one another? What causes the periodic destructive swarming of locusts? What implications, if any, have the actions of animals with respect to human sociometry? The behavior of living creatures is currently accounted a major factor in all the natural and most of the social sciences, but popular understanding of behavior is far behind the times. Naturalists have discovered a great deal in recent years through modern techniques of specialized study, but the general reader knows little beyond the work of men like Linnaeus and Fabre. Dr. Portmann's slim volume can fill many of the gaps. Anthropomorphism is kept to an irreducible minimum, and the parallels Dr. Portmann draws between ""social behavior"" among other animate life forms and man are extremely interesting because they illuminate vast areas of contemporary trends in psychology, sociology and politics. The study draws heavily on unpublished research projects, and thereby contributes considerable new material to an increasingly important field of science.

Pub Date: Sept. 24, 1961

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1961

Categories: NONFICTION