The study of animal behavior has long been confined to functional explanations, denying any emotional responses that animals may possess. In the 1960s, during the peak of animal experimentation, it was even more convenient to disregard any notion of emotion in animals, in order to carry out tests without any sense of guilt or remorse. But the tides are turning – scientists who specialize in the behavior of animals have begun to recognize and accept the presence of emotion in them.
This shift is necessary for a better understanding of an animal’s behavior, as it allows us to analyze and compare it with our own emotions and experiences. To simply observe an animal’s actions without considering their feelings would be incomplete and reactive. Instead, by considering their emotions we can gain real insight into why they act
