Assume that animals have feelings too, say cognitive biologists

We should assume that animals have feelings as well. In an opinion article published in the scientific journal Affective Science on Thursday 10 March, researchers from the universities of Leiden and Utrecht argue that this should inform our dealings with animals.

Many animal species can have emotions according to some behavioral scientists. Some behavioral scientists believe that animals do not have feelings. This is not the case, say cognitive psychologist Mariska Kret and behavioral biologists Jorg Massen and Frans de Waal. It is very difficult to investigate the possibility of animals having feelings, based on observations.

Feelings are our interpretation of emotions.

Emotions and feelings are different. An emotion is made up of three components: a biological one that determines how your body reacts to a stimuli, a behavioral one that makes you express emotions and a cognitive one that makes you make a decision. It has been shown that many animal species have emotions.

Feelings can be seen as the interpretation of your own emotions. Being able to have feelings allows you to empathise with another person's emotions and to think about how you can help them. Being able to take the perspective of that other person is an important cognitive principle.

Emotions and feelings have been researched in both humans and animals. Emotions can be investigated in animals. New methods are being used for this. A thermal camera can measure the response of a human or animal to a frightening image. The body prepares to flee when blood is drawn away from the skin and sent to the muscles. An animal that sits apathetically in a corner is not feeling well. No single method can measure emotion directly, but by combining different methods we make the picture as complete as possible.

The basic conditions are the same.

The interpretation of the test subject plays a role in determining which feelings an animal has. This type of research is done with people. You can ask an animal a question, but they can not give an answer. On the one hand we have difficulty recognizing our own feelings and on the other we are inclined to give socially desirable answers, so research into feelings is difficult even with humans. The question is whether asking questions is the right way to research feelings.

Chimpanzees, for example, can empathise with the desires of others and there is a lot of evidence that they can also interpret emotions. It is better to let the burden of proof go both ways in this discussion according to Massen, Kret and De Waal. Massen assumes that animals also have feelings. We should continue to study how animals interpret emotions. We will be better able to respond to their needs if we understand animals emotions and feelings.

More information: Mariska E. Kret et al, My Fear Is Not, and Never Will Be, Your Fear: On Emotions and Feelings in Animals, Affective Science (2022). DOI: 10.1007/s42761-021-00099-x Citation: Assume that animals have feelings too, say cognitive biologists (2022, March 17) retrieved 17 March 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-03-assume-animals-cognitive-biologists.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.