Anthropomorphism. I was confronted by a man after a horse training clinic asking if I knew the definition of the word. When I said, “No,” he set about educating me. He stated it was the projecting of human emotions onto animals. I found it amusing as he had just spend some time telling me how their mule was stubborn, manipulative, and even scheming. Odd, those seemed humanistic as well, so I decided to check out the word for myself.
Well, Webster Dictionary defines it as the act of humans attributing human shape or characteristics to animals, inanimate objects or a god. Oddly enough there was no mention of emotions. Further investigation shows that the word is mostly used in a derogatory manner. It did raise an interesting thought though, “Why is it OK to attribute negative emotions or characteristics to our animals, but wrong to attribute the positive?” So I decided to see what emotions are all about and found there are emotions directly connected to survival and thus are instinctual. Although some facets of emotions allow for learned behavioral responses, the root emotions are not learned, created or attributed. Anger, disgust, fear, and sadness on the negative side and happiness and surprise on the positive side.
Anger is considered a natural emotion needed for survival that can bring behavioral improvements and is divided into three types: instinctual reaction to being trapped or hurt, reaction to the thought of intentional harm or mistreatment, and the personal character trait that includes irritability. Anyone who spends any amount of time around a herd of horses will no doubt see the first two types of anger. And trainers will come across these reactions when working with some horses as well. It is a natural and instinctual emotion needed for survival and it is the horse’s perception not the humans that will determine the reaction. If a human corners a horse or pushes in training to the point it feels trapped, the horse will respond with ear pinning, tail switching, kicking, striking and in severe cases charging.
Disgust has been traced to the “natural selection process” meaning it is instinctively acquired to avoid poisonous food, threat, and infection. It is the reaction that keeps the animal from consuming poisonous plants, staying away from food sources that are contaminated by feces or decaying matter. Although not an emotion that elicits a notable “emotional” facial response we associate with disgust, it is none the less an emotion. You can see this when a horse seems to be munching happily on his feed or pasture and suddenly starts spitting out everything in his mouth. He will not touch anything that came out of his mouth, even the ‘good’ feed, due to the disgust of the bad taste.
Fear is most definitely an instinctual response needed by prey animals, hence horses, for survival. Fear, however, is a different emotion from panic and anxiety even though they are connected. Fear is a reaction to real and specific source of danger that most times is related to the perception of pain. This is also sometimes termed “justified” fear as pain or discomfort has been or will be experienced. As anyone can attest there are several levels of fear from slight fear associated with a confrontation that poses a trivial threat, all the way to dread of an eminent approach of real danger. There is also what is termed as “unjustified” fear, which is fear that includes no pain or discomfort. It is unjustified to the onlooker, but to the one experiencing it, the fear and dread of perceived pain or discomfort is real. We all have seen this when the horse shows fear to a strange object. Instincts tell him there is danger even though he has never experience pain or discomfort with that particular object.
Interestingly enough, fear can be taught. If one experiences pain or extreme discomfort they can develop a fear for that particular event. Meaning that while the horse is showing apprehension toward the above mentioned object if the handler then causes the horse pain at that moment, the handler will eventually teach the horse to fear strange objects as the horse will associate the situation with pain. On a different level, a horse unfamiliar with the electric fence will approach and touch it with curiosity and interest. A good shock from the fence will “teach” that horse to fear wire fences.
Sadness, now the controversy will start as there is no proof that sadness is necessary for survival so is it a learned emotion or is it an instinct. Why is it so hard to believe that an animal can and will experience sadness when just about anyone will attest to seeing “happiness” or “joy” in a foals playing or running circles around the mother. While play is for developing muscles and reflexes that may one day save its life, it is still called play. Sadness is the opposite of happiness and is noted by drop in interaction, interest and performance. It is a short period of a drop in happiness. Now, those changes in behavior may also be attributed to illness, injury, or bad nutrition and while I do not feel animals experience sadness for the same reasons as humans, I have seen evidence of a sudden drop in ‘happiness’ in otherwise perfectly healthy horses.
I don’t think there is any argument in the fact that a horse can experience surprise. It is an emotion when one comes across an unexpected situation and results in sudden and involuntary reactions. In most situations the momentary expression of surprise is followed by another emotion, such as fear, happiness or even anger. All one needs to do to experience this emotion in horses is go on a trail ride. A rabbit bolting in front of the horse or a flock of quail shooting out of the brush will no doubt give a complete demonstration of this emotion as well as following emotions felt by not only the horse, but the rider as well. How about coming around the corner with a treat? Your sudden appearance causes surprise which quickly turns to happiness at the sight of the treat.
It is my belief that for the animals sake they were made amoral. Any emotion that is directly connected to knowing right from wrong such as guilt, shame, and regret was kept from them. Thus they can live in the here and now and do what they need to do to survive without hesitation. And while I only have space to look at the main emotions shown in horses the list is long: Acceptance, Affection, Aggression, Ambivalence, Anxiety, Boredom, Confidence, Confusion, Depression, Doubt, Frustration, Grief, Homesickness, Hunger, Interest, Loneliness, Pleasure, Pride, Rage, Suffering.
What does it all mean? To me anthropomorphism is just a ten cent college word that when used by persons to degrade others, as with all browbeaters, is a show of a lack of intelligence and severe insecurity in themselves. Yes, there are those out there that will treat an animal in unhealthy ways, coddling, smothering, and using them to fill a need that no animal was designed to fill. I have worked with horses and people that have needed to make adjustments in their demands of the horse, but to say an animal is completely devoid of emotion and character is blatant stupidity. These creatures were put here not just as a food source, but also for our enjoyment. It’s not much enjoyment in watching grass grow (lack of emotion) so they were given personalities and emotions.
