Chapter 1 - Typical Human, Typical Animal?

Summary

A revolution has recently taken place in behavioural biology. Its consequences are far-reaching, both for our self-image as humans and for our relationship with animals. Just a few decades ago, behavioural science was guided by two key dogmas: animals cannot think, and no scientific statements can be made about their emotions. Today, the same discipline holds both ideas to be false and posits the very opposite: animals of some species are capable of insight – they can recognise themselves in a mirror and exhibit at least a basic sense of self-awareness – and they have rich emotional lives that seem to be startlingly similar to those of humans. Situations that lead to strong emotional responses in humans, whether positive or negative – for example, when we fall in love or lose a partner – seem to have the same effect on our animal relatives.