By One of the greatest human passions is connecting with animals. Let’s see what conclusions science has drawn about their emotions and how they function.
You’ve probably noticed when your dog is happy. Or you’ve seen a chimpanzee behind bars and thought he was sad. Do you wonder if animals feel emotions? It’s easy to answer this question intuitively, as many animals express their emotions in a similar way to our species .
So, what you will find in this article is what you can present to those who deny animal emotionality: scientific evidence. Let’s go with it, because the research is extensive and presents quite interesting results.
What scientific evidence is there that animals feel emotions?
The first step in proving that animals feel emotions is to compare their brains with ours. Research studies the similarities between human brain function and that of other animals, assuming that a correspondence at a structural level will result in the same psychological process.
An example of this is the study published in the journal Neuron , which analyzed the brain structures of rats related to emotions. The scientists stated that these rodents showed signs of euphoria when a specific region of the limbic system was stimulated, which indicates that rats can experience positive emotions similar to human happiness.
Similarly, in a study shared by Behavioural Processes , magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine the brains of dogs as they sniffed familiar and unfamiliar odors. The results showed that canines showed distinctive neural responses to familiar odors , which is consistent with them feeling emotions related to familiarity and attachment.
What emotions are animals capable of feeling?
Based on the functional value of emotions when it comes to relating to the environment, it is assumed that animals can feel, at least, the basic ones: fear, joy, disgust, sadness and anger. However, some species go much further.
Studies on primates reveal that chimpanzees show signs of empathy and compassion towards other individuals in their group, displaying complex social emotions.
Another striking example is the elephant, known for its collaborative social structure and the enormous complexity of its emotions. They mourn their dead, make friends, cooperate and take revenge on hunters who kill their family.
To give you an idea of the magnitude of this, check out the article by Rizzolo, JB, & Bradshaw (2016), stating that these animals develop post-traumatic stress and this is passed on from one generation to the next.
How do animals’ emotions affect their survival in the wild?
The emotions of animals , whether human or not, are crucial for survival. Fear warns of possible threats, sadness attracts social support, anger provokes reactions to imminent dangers. No one wants to eat something that disgusts them, as they could get sick and they spread their happiness to others to strengthen bonds.
Other, more complex emotions, such as jealousy or grief, have a regulatory function in social groups , just as they do in our own species. A curious example of this is the research shared in Emotion , in 2019 , suggesting that chimpanzees gain affiliative and social advantages by returning the laughter of their playmates.
Is there a link between the emotions of humans and other animals?
It is no coincidence that our brain structures and neurochemical systems are similar in terms of processing and expressing emotions. This has an evolutionary component, where different species have faced similar challenges for millions of years and adapted in similar ways.
Comparative psychology , on the other hand, has been trying for many years to find similarities and differences between human and non-human cognition, focusing on both brain and behavioral studies.
Today, neurochemistry is considered to be the nexus we are talking about and progress is being made in research into the subjective experience of emotions; that is, consciousness.
Challenges and frontiers in this branch of research
The biggest challenge facing researchers is that almost all animals cannot communicate what they feel in our language. That is why the analyses are based on the evolution of species and the study of the brain, since this is where the most objective data is obtained.
The next step is to describe subjective emotion, that is, how animals experience it. While they demonstrate feelings of all kinds, it is a mistake to assume that their subjective experience is the same as ours. Their senses are different and their brains, albeit narrowly in some cases, have different structures. Therefore, reading their minds will be a job for many years.
How can understanding animal emotion help improve their well-being and protection?
The moment we internalize the idea that animals feel emotions (whether similar or not to humans), many areas of our lives are automatically questioned.
Should we drink the milk of someone who is mourning the loss of their child? Does an elephant living in a zoo feel lonely? Can an animal’s handling at the vet be improved to reduce its stress? Questions are multiplying by the minute and solutions are appearing.
For this reason, many people are wondering whether animals feel emotions, as there are thousands of practices that could be changed to improve the coexistence of our species on the planet, reduce suffering and preserve our home. Recognizing their emotions is, even if unconsciously, recognizing their rights. And this inevitably leads to action.