Sunday, June 02, 2013

Why Do We Get So Attached to Animals?


What is it about pets that makes us so attached? Why is it that the passing of a beloved dog or cat grieves us so? How come hospitals use pets as therapists? I ponder on the co-evolution of humans and pets. I think of the psychology of a companion who is always affectionate. I think of the neurology of mirror neurons, anthropomorphism of attributing them similar emotional states. I wonder what the dog and cat think too.

Image shown under GNU Free Documentation License, from Wikipedia.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

http://www.npr.org/2013/05/27/185815445/questions-for-barbara-j-king-author-of-how-animals-grieve

Craig said...

thanks for the fascinating link!

Anonymous said...

Thought it might help to answer the "what the cat and dog think" question :)