220: PsycExplorer  Roundup: More Evidence That Animals Think and Feel episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 16, 2014 · 31 MIN

220: PsycExplorer Roundup: More Evidence That Animals Think and Feel

from Psychology in Everyday Life: The Psych Files · host Michael Britt

In episode 217 I asked you to be frank with yourself: does your animal really think?  It's easy to believe they do, but if you're going to study this issue scientifically you have to eliminate our human tendency to anthropomorphize - to want to believe that animal actions are motivated by internal states.  Well, here's a roundup of a few articles I found in my PsycExplorer app (PsycExplorerHD for iPad) which show exactly what psychologists are doing to find out what exactly is going on (if anything...) in the minds of dogs, cats, rats, chickens and yes fruit flies.  Are they really thinking in there?  Well, maybe so.  These examples certainly convinced me, although it might all depend on what you mean by "thinking" and "feeling".    We also find out how we react to those sudden thoughts that jump into our minds - what do they mean?  Are thoughts that jump into our mind more significant than thoughts that we actively think about? 

In episode 217 I asked you to be frank with yourself: does your animal really think?  It's easy to believe they do, but if you're going to study this issue scientifically you have to eliminate our human tendency to anthropomorphize - to want to believe that animal actions are motivated by internal states.  Well, here's a roundup of a few articles I found in my PsycExplorer app (PsycExplorerHD for iPad) which show exactly what psychologists are doing to find out what exactly is going on (if anything...) in the minds of dogs, cats, rats, chickens and yes fruit flies.  Are they really thinking in there?  Well, maybe so.  These examples certainly convinced me, although it might all depend on what you mean by "thinking" and "feeling".    We also find out how we react to those sudden thoughts that jump into our minds - what do they mean?  Are thoughts that jump into our mind more significant than thoughts that we actively think about?

NOW PLAYING

220: PsycExplorer Roundup: More Evidence That Animals Think and Feel

0:00 31:13

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Psychology in Everyday Life: The Psych Files?

This episode is 31 minutes long.

When was this Psychology in Everyday Life: The Psych Files episode published?

This episode was published on June 16, 2014.

What is this episode about?

In episode 217 I asked you to be frank with yourself: does your animal really think?  It's easy to believe they do, but if you're going to study this issue scientifically you have to eliminate our human tendency to anthropomorphize - to want to...

Can I download this Psychology in Everyday Life: The Psych Files episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!