Cover image for Why dogs hump and bees get depressed : the fascinating science of animal intelligence, emotions, friendship, and conservation
Title:
Why dogs hump and bees get depressed : the fascinating science of animal intelligence, emotions, friendship, and conservation
Author:
Publication Date:
2013
Publication Information:
Novato, California : New World Library, [2013]
Physical Description:
xvii, 381 pages ; 22 cm
ISBN:
9781608682195
Abstract:
"In 2009, Marc Bekoff was asked to write on animal emotions for Psychology Today. Some 500 popular, jargon-free essays later, the field of anthrozoology, the study of human-animal interactions, has grown exponentially, as have the data showing how smart and emotional nonhuman animals are. Here Bekoff updates selected essays that showcase animal cognitive abilities as well as empathy, grief, humor, and love. Humpback whales protect gray whales from orca attacks, combat dogs suffer from PTSD, and bees reveal thrill-seeking tendencies. While the science prompts questions about biomedical research and industrial agriculture, Bekoff's handling of it offers what Good Morning America veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker calls an "ethical compass" and reminds us that, as His Holiness the Dalai Lama put it in writing about Bekoff's work, "the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well being becomes." "-- Provided by publisher.

""Updates and perspectives on the science of animal emotion and human-animal interaction by a professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology. Topics include animal emotion, behavior, and cognitive abilities; ethical issues surrounding animals in captivity and human diet; and media representations of animals. Collected from essays for Psychology Today's website"--Provided by publisher"-- Provided by publisher.
Contents:
Animals and us: Reflections on our challenging, frustrating , confusing, and deep interrelationships with other animals -- Against speciesism: Why all individuals are unique and special -- Media and the (mis)representation of animals -- Why dogs hump: Or, what we can learn from our special friends -- Consciousness, sentience, and cognition: A potpourri of current research on flies, fish, and other animals -- The emotional lives of animals: The ever-expanding circle of sentience includes depressed bees and empathic chickens -- Wild justice and moral intelligence: Don't blame other animals for our destructive ways -- The lives of captive creatures: Why are they even there? -- Who we eat is a moral question -- Who lives, who dies, and why: Redecorating nature, peaceful coexistence, and compassionate conservation -- Rewilding our hearts: The importance of kindness, empathy, and compassion for all beings.
Subject Term:
Language:
English
Holds: