The Emotional Lives of Animals

[secrets0stolen]

Ran across this book and I thought I'd post it for discussion. The emotional lives of animals: a ... - Google Books


Here's a review:

"Editorial Review - Publishers Weekly vol. 254 iss. 52 p. 27 (c) 12/31/2007
Any dog owner knows that her own pet has feelings, but what evidence exists beyond the anecdotal, and what does this evidence teach us? Bekoff, professor emeritus of biology at the University of Colorado, pores over decades of animal research—behavioral, neurochemical, psychological and environmental—to answer that question, compelling readers to accept both the existence and significance of animal emotions. Seated in the most primitive structures of the brain (pleasure receptors, for example, are biologically correlative in all mammals), emotions have a long evolutionary history. Indeed, as vertebrates became more complex, they developed ever more complex emotional and social lives, “setting rules” that permit group living—a far better survival strategy than going solo. Along the way, Bekoff forces the reader to reexamine the nature of human beings; our species could not have persevered through the past 100,000 years without the evolution of strong and cohesive social relationships cemented with emotions, a conclusion contrary to contemporary pop sociology notions that prioritize individualism and competition. He also explores, painfully but honestly, the abuse animals regularly withstand in factory farms, research centers and elsewhere, and calls on fellow scientists to practice their discipline with “heart.” Demonstrating the far-reaching implications for readers' relationships with any number of living beings, Bekoff's book is profound, thought provoking and even touching. (Mar.) "

[rei]

Awesome. Vibes with my subjective experience completely.

I don't resonate with the whole "only humans are self-aware" attitude either. How could we possibly know that? When I call the dog who shares my space with the label I gave his individuality, he looks. He hears and responds to it. I've seen him experiencing excitement, anxiety, sadness, fear, boredom, apathy and joy.

I've never really felt that animals didn't have feelings like human animals do and it's cool that someone gathered some objective-western-science about that.

Funny that you posted this. Last night I was at a rodeo (yes, really) and there was this one particularly wild horse. I wanted very much to get close to it, have some eye contact and connection, share a moment. Whisper a bit. Validate its feelings, more or less.

[secrets0stolen]

Originally Posted by rei

Awesome. Vibes with my subjective experience completely.

I don't resonate with the whole "only humans are self-aware" attitude either. How could we possibly know that? When I call the dog who shares my space with the label I gave his individuality, he looks. He hears and responds to it. I've seen him experiencing excitement, anxiety, sadness, fear, boredom, apathy and joy.

I've never really felt that animals didn't have feelings like human animals do and it's cool that someone gathered some objective-western-science about that.

Funny that you posted this. Last night I was at a rodeo (yes, really) and there was this one particularly wild horse. I wanted very much to get close to it, have some eye contact and connection, share a moment. Whisper a bit. Validate its feelings, more or less.

We reach here. I was told as a kid animals can feel physically, but not emotionally--I processed the idea, and it never sunk in because it just seemed so off! I've seen the dog I live with exhibit jealousy and shame behaviors, and some level of self awareness is necessary to those emotions. (Ex: Two humans in my family hug or kiss, the dog looks at them, and either barks, nudges, lays down and sighs, or some combination--every time!)

[Just One More]

Live with a cat and this is clear. Their faces are incredibly expressive.