Researchers are making great strides toward understanding animal emotions. Horses display both fear and joy when playing, crows mourn their dead, and even octopuses feel discomfort.
Although many behaviorists have discredited the existence of animal emotions, many scientists now acknowledge their existence. According to a recent poll, 52% of respondents indicated that measuring these emotions is either achievable now or will become feasible with advancements in technology.
Emotions are a natural part of life
Emotions are an integral part of life, shaping our thoughts and actions in various ways. From short-lived anger at colleagues to long-term grief over lost relationships, our emotions impact the way we communicate with one another and interact with our environment. Emotions can be triggered by various brain structures such as hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala and limbic cortex – they even cause physical responses such as increased heart rate and release of stress hormones.
Even though animal emotions have often been debated in scientific communities, there is considerable support for their existence. Many researchers believe that animals experience joy and sorrow like humans do; furthermore, studies have proven evidence that animals sense pain. When scared rabbits encounter predators they release stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol which increase heart rates significantly while redirecting blood from non-essential organs towards vital ones which protect from injury.
Though animal behaviorists disagree greatly about which animals experience emotions and consciousness, 88% of respondents agreed that most do. Furthermore, they stated that being close to humans does not necessitate experiencing emotions and consciousness. These findings show that science is moving closer towards comprehending animal emotional lives.
They are a normal part of communication
Charles Darwin challenged this notion in 1872 when he proposed that emotions are an evolutionary commonality among animals. Emotions described by Darwin include fear, joy, anger, love and sadness – feelings which drive animals to act on an impulse from within them.
Emotions are internal states that motivate animal behavior in much the same way they motivate humans – just like hunger or thirst do. While hunger or thirst are physical urges which prompt action to take place, emotions are thoughts and feelings which prompt action to take place. Although some may doubt whether animals possess emotions, research supports it strongly.
Animals around the globe exhibit a broad range of emotions. Dolphins and orcas demonstrate playfulness and empathy while elephants appear to grieve for their dead. Some fish even seek caresses from aquarium owners! Many scientists consider these phenomena to be evidence of emotions; yet their exact definition remains contentious: some researchers define emotions as behaviors with survival functions while others examine brain circuitry that connects these behaviors to emotions.
Other researchers believe animal experiences mirror ours. A rat’s squinting eyes might be an expression of frustration or anger; changes in vocalisation such as bleats or grunts signal stress for many species; for instance, pigs will produce less harmonious sounds when under stress.
They are a normal part of bonding
Western thinkers have long dismissed the concept that animals have emotions, yet Charles Darwin challenged this view by suggesting they may share similar emotional experiences to humans. Since then, scientists have explored this idea and tried to gain an understanding of how animals feel through functional and mechanistic approaches.
An animal experiencing excitement will likely release hormones which produce a surge of blood to their brain, heart, and muscles, increasing alertness while decreasing non-essential organ bloodflow. Furthermore, noradrenaline and cortisol production increases energy or lowers stress levels respectively.
One way of understanding how animals feel is through their behavior. If an animal looks sad, for instance, it might withdraw or hide from its peers. Furthermore, many creatures show acts of compassion toward one another – for instance a rat will come running to help out another sick animal even if that means giving up some food itself.
Studies by scientists and others suggest it may be possible to discern emotions in animals through studying their body language and facial expressions, yet other individuals argue this is an oversimplification and that any emotions we detect in them could actually be learned behaviors; for instance, when dogs pout, it might not necessarily mean they committed some transgression; it might just be their owner speaking intoned sentences over and over or reacting negatively when something goes wrong in the home environment.
They are a normal part of learning
Research in multiple fields supports the idea that emotions are an essential component of learning. We recognize happiness, fear, anger and sadness as emotions associated with cognitive flexibility and openness to new information – both essential for effective learning and problem-solving. Knowledge emotions such as surprise, interest confusion or awe also play a key role, whether short term (such as trying to locate the source of a loud crash as in surprise) or longer-term (e.g. engaging in hobbies, pastimes and intellectual pursuits as in interest).
Note, however, that simply because an animal experiences strong emotions does not equate to consciousness. There has been much discussion over whether certain decapod crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters, or cephalopods such as octopuses and squid are sentient, which will determine what level of legal protection they receive if their lives become threatened.
Scientists are discovering skills long considered the domain of humans – from planning for the future to sensing fairness – in animals as never before, making the case for animal sentience stronger than ever and protecting it accordingly. As more and more people argue this position, we should do everything we can to protect animals accordingly.