Monday, April 3, 2006

Do Animals Care?


Do Animals Care?


Psychology Today


April 2006


"Animal Passions" by Douglas Starr


Neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp thinks that aniamls experience joy, despairand love. He says that animals have rich emotional lives . He has tested animals at Bowling Greeen University since the 1980s.


Panksepp says that responses like despair, love and joy have helped many creatures survive.At first, people did not belive him, but now he has many followers ... other neuroscientists, psychologists and animals behavorists. These experst have tested animal behavior and they ahve found animals to show strong love, nurturing, fear and rage.


Panksepp studied how joy, grief and love were affected by social interactions.


Experts no longer belive that if an animal cannot talk about her emotiona she doesn't have them. WoW!:):)


That's unique in observations compared to before Panksepp.


But what do you think?:0

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is very true...many experiments have been done like the enrichment and deprivation studies of the Harlow monkey experiments that show animals thrive so much more in a loving and caring environment.

Anonymous said...

I've known my friends birds she breeds to grieve and die when their partners die. My cat is grieving right now for my other cat who died last week. I've seen horses who are full of joy galloping and frolicking around fields. They don't need to express in words how they feel, you can see it clearly!! Jeannette.  

Anonymous said...

I totally agree! Yes they have emotions & feelings...any one who ever had a pet can tell this!!! ;0)
SUGAR

Anonymous said...

I think anyone who has had an animal as a pet, doesn't need a study to know that animals have all kinds of emotions and likes and dislikes. To me, the money was wasted on the study. ; )

Angela

Anonymous said...

i feel that my dog knows when i am grieving. when my other dog died i was soooo shaken by it and pokey stayed by my side the entire night. that did give me a sense of comfort and whenever i am down for whatever reason i feel he senses it cause he is always by my side. debbie

Anonymous said...

I tried to ask Sloppy Dog about this, but she ignored me and kept typing.

Anonymous said...

anyone who has a pet knows animals have deep emotions.
Marti