‘Found cream like a cat’: Animals feel human-like emotions – show a positive mood when they ‘win’ and pessimism ‘loses’ when practiced.
- Animal behavior experts are not conventional considering the role of emotion
- While humans can report how they feel, animal emotions are enigmatic
- Researchers in Belfast reviewed a study of animal competition for resources
- They found that the winners behaved more confidently after the victory than the loser
- This shows that emotions can help guide the behavior of different animals
Animals show pessimism when they ‘win’ and pessimism when they ‘lose’ – indicating that they experience experiences similar to ours, a president claimed.
In the review study, experts in Belfast used the example of animal competition – for limited resources or mating – to argue that emotion affects animal behavior.
Scientists studying the behavior of animals have not traditionally considered the role of emotion – which is difficult to measure accurately in animals.
However, the team concludes, animals behave differently after the results of the competition – with those who lose, for example, develop a negative emotional state.
By doing so, they pessimistically evaluate their chances of winning future battles – and may disappoint them with the competitors involved.
Winners, on the other hand, develop a positive mood that has the opposite effect.
Emotions can also guide the non-reflexive actions of animals in contexts other than competitions – from the choice of spouse and the indication of parental care.
Given this, these findings may have implications for animal welfare, and how they can be improved, the researchers noted.
Animals show pessimism when they ‘win’ and pessimism when they ‘lose’ – indicating that they experience experiences like ours, a president claims. Pictured, a stuffed cat
‘Human emotion affects unrelated cognition and behavior. For example, people rate their overall life satisfaction on a sunny day rather than on a rainy day. ‘
Teams have argued that a similar phenomenon could be found in animals.
‘We have found that the emotions of animals also affect unrelated cognition and behavior. For example, animals that have won a contest experience a more positive mood and expect fewer predators in their environment. ‘
‘Similarly, animals that lost a contest experienced negative emotions and participated in less competition in the future. These carryover effects can lead to bad behavior. ‘
‘Stimuli or events that affect emotional responses effectively affect any decision – with potential life or death consequences,’ Dr. Crump continued.
‘For example, does wrestling leave a hunter or the wind? Anxious animals will probably interpret interpret as prey and run away. ‘
‘This mood is favorable when anxiety is related, e.g., if it was motivated by a hunter’s previous experience of an attack.’
He added, ‘But if the mood gets worse if it’s motivated by something else – say, lose the contest,’ he added.
‘In these circumstances, when the emotional basis of the decision is not related to the decision itself, we predict a flawed decision.’
In the review study, experts in Belfast used the example of animal competition – for limited resources or mating – to argue that emotion affects animal behavior. In the picture, two male Fidler crabs fight. According to a new study, the winner will develop a better mood and increase his or her chances of success in future competitions.
“Animal behavior researchers don’t usually take animal emotions into account in their work,” said Gareth Arnott, author of the Queen’s University Belfast paper and animal behavior expert.
‘The results of this study show that this may need to be considered as the role of animals’ Their feeling is crucial in relation to understanding subsequent behavior. ‘
Understanding these sentiments also has practical benefits for the future of animal welfare. Good welfare requires that animals have a few negative emotions and many opportunities for positive experiences. ‘
‘Understanding animal emotions and why they evolved will help measure and improve the emotional states and well-being of animals.’
The full findings of the study were published in the Royal Society’s Jersey Proceedings.
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