quick ACR question

If I increase blacks in ACR, or decrease darks in the curves tab, it seems to do exactly the same thing, does it? also, is it possible to get curves in photoshop like you can in ACR where you can just use sliders for 'highlights, lights, darks, shadows', instead of having to manipulate the actual curve? (which i find much more difficult and don't like how lowering one thing raises another).

thanks

Guessing here;
I think the slider for blacks in ACR is setting a cutoff point where everything below that point will be black and then it adjusts the scale for the rest, while the curve slider is adding/subtracting values to pixels. It may have the same effect, but getting to it from a different direction.

Or they may be the same thing, just different tools.

Longwatcher guessed correct
Increasing the blacks will clip them. The curve will work a bit more 'gradually'.

In PS you can make a curves adjustment layer, then Cmd (Ctrl?) click in the image, this will give you an 'anchor point' on the curve on the value you clicked. You can then use the arrow keys (or mouse) tho move them