User:FT2/emotion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

Human-animal emotional bonding?

zoosexuality and animal abuse?

Zoophilia and emotion examines the basis of the emotional connection in zoophilic relationships, both sexual and non-sexual.

The question whether animals can 'enjoy' or 'choose' sex, whether with a human or otherwise, or whether indeed this is the appropriate measure for social judgement of human-animal sexual acts, is still an emotive and controversial topic.

Contents

[edit] Human emotions towards animals

[edit] Animal emotions towards humans

[edit] Emotional bonding in human-animal relationships

[edit] Emotional bonding in zoophilia

It is generally accepted that in common with heterosexuality and homosexuality, the broad scope of zoosexuality includes (for example) zoosexuals for whom the forming or existence of a loving relational bond is important, and also some whose motivation is closer to abuse or zoosadism. The emotional relationship associated with the latter is documented in that article. This section therefore considers emotional connection in zoosexuals where abuse is not a conscious intent of the interaction.

[edit] Emotion in humans

Main articles: Animal love, Zoophilia

Masters, in 1962, posed the question, "To what extent does the human individual participating in an act of bestiality regard the animal sex partner as a person?" He comments in reply that:

"[The human] anticipates that the animal will derive gratification from its intercourse with him, as another person would, and he is disappointed if this reaction does not occur", attributes emotional capabilities and some conceptual abilities, and "in short, regards it as a personality, a human-like consciousness which differs from him erotically more in form than in spirit. This is, in part why individuals are able to 'fall in love' with animals, especially with those animals with which they have had repeated sexual experiences...."

He also asked in the same work, "Is it possible for a human being to be in love, in the romantic sense of that expression, with an animal? Is it possible for an animal, within the limitations of its nature, to reciprocate such affection?"

"In this area the attitudes and emotions with which the (human) subjects approach their (animal) objects are considered decisive..." There is said to be "a genuine feeling for the animal on the part of the human", and may "approximate what is called 'erotic love' when humans only are involved... Though comparatively quite rare, there do occur cases... of human beings who genuinely 'fall in love' with animals, a love which includes sexual relations, but also such 'romantic' elements as tenderness, spiritual affection, and even jealousy."

Likewise Beetz states:

"That the emotional side indeed plays a role for some people engaging in sexual contact with animals, was acknowledged by several sources, e.g . Bornemann (1990), Cerrone (1991), Davis (1954), Donofrio (1996), Hentig (1962), Kinsey et al. (1948), and Miletski (1999). For example, Hentig (1962) referred to a patient described by Hirschfeld: The man was deeply in love with a horse, had built a special, luxurious barn for it, pampered it, was according to his own words faithful to the horse and would have killed himself in case the horse died before him. New -- at least in his time -- was the perspective of Ullerstam (1966) who suggested, that emotions as well as erotic feelings can even be reciprocal between man and animals. Also Kinsey (1954) held the opinion, that the sexual contact can lead up to a close emotional attachment to the animal and that in some cases the animal gets used to this interspecies contact so much, that it neglects possible sex partners of its own kind." (Beetz section 5.2.11)

Finally, according to Kurrelgyre (1995, cited by Miletski) "Many zoos find satisfaction purely in giving pleasure to the animal."

[edit] Emotion in animals

Main article: Emotion in animals

Whilst studies of animals responses to zoosexual activity are less researched, there is a significant body of opinion in the near-unanimity of those studies which have been undertaken and attempted to review this area. Thus Masters, in 1962, wrote:

"Where sadism is not present, there is considerable room for doubt as to whether there is any cruelty. It has always been noted in fact, by ancient historians and up through Kinsey in our own time, that animals tend to become affectionately attached (not only physically) to humans who have sex relations with them, and sometimes have even been known to forsake intercourse with their own kind in testimony to their preference for relations with humans. Whatever one may think of bestiality, this does not sound as if it were an act of cruelty so far as the animal is concerned."

Masters ultimately speculated that:

"One seems forced to conclude, the animal derives a considerable psychical[1] and/or emotional pleasure from sexual contact with a being of a higher nervous, emotional, and intellectual organization, who is somehow able to provide the animal with non-material rewards which another animal is not able to offer."

This is corroborated by Kinsey, who according to the same author, "accepts as factual that animals may develop great fondness for humans who have sexual relations with them".

Likewise Miletski (1999) noted that information on sex with animals on the internet is often very emphatic as to how to give pleasure and identify consent, and how to avoid harm, to the point that she states "one can find instructions on how to tell if the animal is in the mood for sex, and specific suggestions such as to cut one's nails and file them before he/she engages in any sexual act with an animal, lest one physically hurt the animal."

Beetz adds to these her finding that other than "violent sexual acts", sexual contact "of suitable anatomy and size" does not necessarily cause pain or injuries to the animal.[2]

Looking at animal capability to have genuine emotions, more generally, Jonathan Balcombe argues in his 2006 book that animals in fact have a highly developed sense of pleasure in life, and not merely basic responses such as pain.[3] Reviewing this book, Wayne Pacelle, the President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) comments: "Dr. Balcombe convincingly argues that animals are individual beings with a wide range of emotions and feeling. If he is correct — and I believe he is — it follows that we must grapple with the ethical consequences of his important insights."

[edit] Intersubjective emotion

Beetz (2002, section 5.2.11) comments on the intersubjective bond, "That an emotional attachment to the animal is important, if not more important than the sexual interaction for many zoophile persons, was documented by the research of Miletski (1999)".

She summarizes (section 5.2.8) that: "In most references to bestiality violence towards the animal is automatically implied. That sexual approaches to animals may not need force or violence but rather a sensitivity or knowledge of animal behavior... is rarely taken into consideration."

[edit] Non-zoophilic human-animal bonding

Main article: Animal love

Nature of bond, loss, love, dependency, working partnerships, service and utility dogs for disabled, bonding to other species (eg gorillas, dolphins, wolves), crosslink therianthropy...

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ The term psychical is used, meaning, "of the psyche". Not to be confused with "physical, meaning, "of the body".
  2. ^ Beetz 2002 section 5.2.6: "Except of the violent sexual acts with animals described above, it should be noted, that in many cases the sexual contact with a mammal of suitable anatomy and size does not necessarily cause pain or injuries to the animal."
  3. ^ Jonathan Balcombe, Pleasurable Kingdom, 2006: Publishers description states that the book: "suggests that creatures from birds to baboons feel good thanks to play, sex, touch, food, anticipation, comfort, aesthetics, and more. Combining rigorous evidence, elegant argument and amusing anecdotes, leading animal behavior researcher Jonathan Balcombe proposes that the possibility of positive feelings in creatures other than humans has important ethical ramifications for both science and society."

Category:Zoosexuality Category:Human-animal relationships Category:Love category:Emotion category:Animal cognition category:Animal behaviour category:Behavioural sciences category:Ethology

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../f/t/2/User%7EFT2_emotion_4179.html"