Animal Psychology/J.A. Bierens De Haan. New Delhi, Srishti Book, 2004, 160 p.

    Contents: Preface. 1. The problem of animal psychology. 2. The problem of animal instinct. 3. The problem of animal learning. 4. The problem of animal intelligence. 5. The problem of animal understanding. 6. The problem of animal ideation. 7. The problem of animal's world. Bibliography. Index.

    From the Preface: "The reader will not expect to find in the pages of a book of such a modest size as this a full account of all facts known in the field of animal psychology and of all theories built on these facts. The author has rather preferred to follow, and to work out, one particular line of thought, to wit: the idea that the instincts, as they are defined on page 38 of this book, are the spring and basis of all animal behaviour (with the exception perhaps of play), and therewith the core of the animal's mind, and that individual experience, gathered by the animal in the course of its life, may influence and reconstruct these instincts, so as to guide, in the form of intelligence and understanding, this behaviour along new (i.e., not innate) paths. Thus, instinct and experience become the pillars upon which animal behaviour is built up; instinct, intelligence, and understanding form a triad round which the facts of the psychology of animals may be grouped. As a foundation of all this the author first tries to prove the good right of a real and genuine animal psychology, not hampered by objectivistic and behaviouristic scruples, while in a final chapter, by way of conclusion, he tries to give an image of how the world of the animal is built up. Along this road the reader will meet the principal facts of animal psychology and, for the rest, may add to them by studying some of the works mentioned at the close of this volume. The author expresses the hope that this way of treatment may serve its purpose and form an introduction to the fascinating science of the psychology of animals."

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