Do Animals Experience Emotions?

[banker_frank]

If so, do they experience emotions in the same way humans do? If not, how do they experience the world and what dictates their behavior?

[spathiphyllum]

I'm not underestimating animals. If anything I would say that i'm over estimating humans.

[pixie374]

Actually Google shows loads of examples of animal suicide. This is just one...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_suicide

[spathiphyllum]

Interesting.

[andy-hughes]

Your link does little to bolster your argument Pix - almost every example is qualified to a point where the notion of 'suicide' is simply not believable as that intended action of the animal concerned.

[pixie374]

It wasn't really my point, Andy. I just thought spath might be interested after his post x

[spathiphyllum]

Aye but self destructive behaviour is similar. The info Pix provides shows examples of sacrifice for the greater good (something you don't see in humans). Is this nature or nurture?

The thing i find odd is ducks drowning themselves.

[Old_Geezer]

What many tend to do as humans is claim anthropomorphise whenever a similarity is pointed out; possibly because many have already made up their mind that humans are different from, and superior to, other animals, so reject any evidence to the contrary, citing instinct or reaction to avoid further consideration. Clearly, if one goes back in time far enough, all plants and animals have the same ancestor; so it would be surprising if those whose mental capacity had most evolved hadn't evolved the same type of emotions as each other, to a greater or lesser extent, as well. The onus is on those who deny this to show it hasn't been so.

[Old_Geezer]

(Someone told them that they were just ducks.)

[andy-hughes]

pixie - // t wasn't really my point, Andy. I just thought spath might be interested after his post x //

Fair enough xx.

[hereIam]

I agree with the very first answer on this thread - of course they do, as has been explained by many on here.

[banker_frank]

We really don't know if animals experience emotions in the same way humans do because we can't ask them. Natural Instincts dictates their behaviours much more than in humans. Fido does not 'Love' you he respects you as a leader (or not as the case maybe). Fluffy does not 'Love' you, she just wants her Go Cat Crunchies or a free groom.