After all, this image comes from Darwin's book, The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. And this dog is clearly expressing emotions!
But sometimes, it’s less easy to see. Sometimes a species might be set up to hide his or her emotions. Maybe it’s a prey species, and I know I’ve said this before, but a rabbit doesn’t want to advertise he has a broken leg. Then, the rabbit would stop being a rabbit and become a dinner. But that’s not to say Mr. Rabbit isn’t experiencing fear or pain just because he’s not yowling like I would be.
A bigger question is: What emotions do humans share with other non-human species? How can we explore where there is overlap and where there is projection?
Join me on Friday, September 21st @ 7 PM for Thinking Animal: Sharing Animal Emotions, a lecture series here in NYC at Hunter College. If we're lucky, this month's talk will feature dogs, pleasure and laughing rats.
Thinking Animals does not disappoint! Getting in the same room with researchers and scientist who dedicate their careers to various topics of non-human animals, only leaves you more informed (and excited!). Here's my review of past lectures, So you think you know your dog? and Birds and Bees and Octopuses, too!
Join Thinking Animals for a spirited discussion of the latest research in understanding animal emotions with panelists:
 |
| Appointed Sharers of Animal Emotions |
Chair of the Animal Studies Department with the Humane Society University.
MARC BEKOFF, Ph.D., International lecturer on issues of animal behavior, cognitive ethology, and behavioral ecology.
JAAK PANKSEPP, Ph.D., Coined the term 'affective neuroscience', the name for the field that studies the neural mechanisms of emotion. He is known in the popular press for his research on laughter in non-human animals, such as rats.
And moderator:
MARK MOFFETT, Ph.D.,
Photographer and Biologist, Mark Moffett, also known as "Doctor Bugs", is known for combining serious science with quirky adventure stories and photography.
See you there! ~ Julie
0 comments