Animal Joy.
Saved in:
| Title: | Animal Joy. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Dance, Amber (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Science News. Feb2026, Vol. 208 Issue 2, p32-39. 8p. 8 Color Photographs, 1 Graph, 1 Cartoon or Caricature. |
| Subjects: | Joy, Emotions in animals, Measuring instruments, Affect (Psychology), Subjective well-being (Psychology), Animal welfare, Animal ecology, Scientific observation |
| Abstract: | The article discusses the scientific efforts to measure positive emotions, particularly joy, in nonhuman animals, a topic that has historically been overlooked in favor of studying negative emotions. Researchers are developing a "joy-o-meter" to quantify happiness across various species, including great apes, dolphins, and parrots. The project aims to establish reliable metrics for positive affect, which could enhance the understanding of animal welfare and potentially inform insights into human happiness. Initial findings suggest that behaviors such as laughter-like sounds in rats and playful interactions in bonobos and keas may indicate joy, although challenges remain in accurately measuring and interpreting these emotions. [Extracted from the article] |
| Copyright of Science News is the property of Society for Science & the Public and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | The article discusses the scientific efforts to measure positive emotions, particularly joy, in nonhuman animals, a topic that has historically been overlooked in favor of studying negative emotions. Researchers are developing a "joy-o-meter" to quantify happiness across various species, including great apes, dolphins, and parrots. The project aims to establish reliable metrics for positive affect, which could enhance the understanding of animal welfare and potentially inform insights into human happiness. Initial findings suggest that behaviors such as laughter-like sounds in rats and playful interactions in bonobos and keas may indicate joy, although challenges remain in accurately measuring and interpreting these emotions. [Extracted from the article] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 00368423 |
