Myths are really that dogs and cats feel (video)

Psychology of pets – is it true that they feel emotions in relation to the owners and strive to console them?

It is generally accepted that cats and dogs are capable of empathy*. Or maybe we just endow them with human feelings? No wonder scientists argue about this: Where does the instinct end and the empathy begins?

Supporters of the theory of empathy, Western veterinarian John Bowen, for example, believe that Visual contact and touch enhance the production of oxytocin and strengthen the connection between a person and his pet.

The owner of the dog Lola from Great Britain shared with reporters, as the animal after the death of the owner became more attentive to the family, as if the pain of loss felt. But not all researchers support this point of view.

Some experts say that dogs and cats are not able to experience empathy in our understanding. Their behavior is the result of “emotional infection” or simple curiosity, Writes Bb.lv.

Explosives with a staging cry show: Most dogs seek to console Not only the owner, but also the stranger, which indicates “elementary sympathy.” Cats in such situations are more often observed from the side, however, they also have changes in behavior.

Understanding animals is complicated by the fact that people often evaluate their feelings in context, and not by behavior. Studies showed: even zoologists can be mistaken if they are not guided by the expression of the muzzle, but to the situation.

People are also inclined to interpret fear as guilt, for example, when the dog is “ashamed” of a torn pillow. But even if animals are not capable of “higher” empathy, their reaction to people's emotions has value.

Pets make the owners calmer, improve the psychological state, and this is already a lot. Researcher Karen Histand calls to learn to understand the pet as a person, and not a projection of his feelings.

*Empathy is the ability to feel and understand the emotions of other people. An empathic person can put himself in the place of another person and understand what he feels: sadness, joy, sadness, pain. Empathy allows you to show care and sympathy for other people, it is better to interact and build relationships with others.

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