Do animals have feelings? – Examining Empathy in Animals – What Researchers Say

Many people feel love and empathy for animals, but do the animals we care about so much feel the same for us?

Scientific research, as the “Guardian” newspaper writes, supports the idea of ​​emotions in animals. In fact, researchers have observed empathy in them, as well as sadness, fear, and other complex emotions often associated primarily with humans.

Human emotions in animals

Pythagoras believed that animals possessed the full range of human emotions. Somewhat more recently, Charles Darwin wrote that there is no fundamental difference between man and animals in their mental functions.

Today, current research supports the idea that at least some animals experience a range of emotions such as fear, joy, happiness, shame, anger, compassion, respect, etc.

THE Dr. Marc Beckoff, professor and author of numerous essays on animal rights and conservation, said: “Every day we learn more about animals about their fascinating cognitive and emotional capacities and their moral lives. We know that fish are conscious and feel, rats, mice and chickens show empathy and feel not only their own pain, but also the pain of other individuals.’

This understanding of animals as emotional beings is not something that coincides with the views of some people. Throughout history, many people believed—and still believe—that we differ from animals because of our consciousness and our connection to our fellow humans. Some argue that instead of attributing human emotions to animals, we can explain their behavior through a stimulus-response theory.

Nevertheless, there is mounting evidence that animals experience at least some degree of emotion. Through advanced technologies, researchers are able to observe animals in their natural environment.

Now, researchers are wondering what those emotions are, if any, the line that separates the way humans perceive the world emotionally from the way animals do. Scientists agree that emotions play a key role in human well-being and have likely helped us evolve over time. It is entirely possible that emotions have played a role in the survival of other species and greatly influence their daily lives.

Empathy in animals

One of the most complex and integral emotions is empathy, the ability to understand and share the emotions of those around us. Humans show empathy for both other humans and animals. Do animals do the same? Research shows yes.

The idea of ​​empathy in animals introduces a whole new way of looking at our non-human neighbors, suggesting that our feelings towards them can be mutual. They are also likely to genuinely care about members of their own species in a way we can relate to. This complex emotional trait has been observed in other primates, as well as in dogs, mice and elephants.

Examples of animals that show empathy

Observation of empathy in animals is becoming more common due to our ability to safely observe animals in their own habitats. Here are some examples of animals that show empathy.

Lawrence Anthony was a conservationist who founded the 5,000-acre Thula Thula Reserve with African elephants. He gained a reputation for being able to comfort the elephants upon their arrival at the sanctuary. In fact, he managed to keep the elephants who wanted to run away from being in danger again. In his book, “The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild,” he said he learned to communicate with elephants by observing how they communicated with each other.

When Anthony died of strangulation, the elephants traveled to his home – ostensibly – to pay their respects. His son said that since his father’s death, the herd has been coming to his house at the edge of their shelter every night.

While elephants mourning the loss of members of their herd is not a new phenomenon, the act of paying respect to a human who worked hard to help them is remarkable.

According to a New York Times article, Iraq veteran Benjamin Stepp returned home from two deployments with a traumatic brain injury and multiple other painful injuries. During a lecture, Stepp tried hard to concentrate, but he was agitated. No one in the class noticed, except a dog, who jumped into his arms to comfort him.

Dogs also demonstrate empathy. When the horrific events of 2012 occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School, comfort dogs were able to help children open up and heal from their traumatic experiences. Some children spoke directly to the dogs about what they had experienced. In fact, one child spoke for the first time after the shooting after petting one of the dogs.

Many people don’t think of rats when they think of empathy, but a recent study proves that rats empathize with their friends. In the study, the rats saved their friends from drowning. The experiment showed that when one rat was drenched in water, another rat quickly learned how to operate a lever that would allow the rat to escape to a dry area.

Do animals have feelings?

Award-winning environmental writer Carl Safina addressed this very question in an interview with National Geographic. He said: “Having observed animals all my life, I have always been struck by how similar they are to us. I was always moved by their bonds and impressed – sometimes frightened – by their emotions.” In fact, those who work closest to animals are more convinced that they do contain a wide range of emotions and feelings.

Although there is still much research to be done on animal emotions, there is more evidence than ever in history that animals experience emotions just as we do. In all probability, these emotions play an important role in their life and survival.

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