The Animal Behavior Society is an international
non-profit scientific society that encourages and promotes the professional study of
animal behavior. It has open membership and also provides a certification and directory for animal behaviorists. The Society was founded in 1964.
Certification
Unlike the titles
veterinarian,
psychologist
A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and interpretation of how indi ...
, and
psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in psychiatry, the branch of medicine devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, study, and treatment of mental disorders. Psychiatrists are physicians and evaluate patients to determine whether their sy ...
, which in the United States are state licensed, the title "animal behaviorist" or similar titles can be used by anyone, regardless of their background. Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists have supervised graduate training in animal behavior,
biology,
zoology, and psychology (including learning theory) at accredited universities. They publish data based papers in
peer-reviewed
Peer review is the evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the work (peers). It functions as a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession within the relevant field. Peer review ...
scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research.
Content
Articles in scientific journals are mostly written by active scientists such as s ...
s. Some are veterinarians who have completed a residency in animal behavior. They are full-time professionally educated animal behaviorists who work with pet owners to solve behavior issues.
There are two levels of professional certification:
* ''Associate Applied Animal Behaviorist'' - Requirements include a
Master's degree with an emphasis in animal behavior, a research-based
thesis, a minimum of two years of professional experience, and three letters of recommendation from other ABS members
* ''Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist'' Requirements include those of the Associate level, plus a
Ph.D. with an emphasis on animal behavior, and additional years of professional experience.
See also
*
Ethology
*
''Animal Behaviour''
References
External links
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Ethology
Scientific societies based in the United States
Organizations established in 1964
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