Barwood Grad Research Assignment: Discussion ?s on Article

What kind of effect does our perception of animal consciousness have on our relationship with animals?
Most people would say they feel closer to their pets than a wild animal because they believe to have an unspoken bond with the animal. Some would argue that their dog has more consciousness than someone’s pet Boa or hamster because their brains are larger and therefore must be more developed than that of an amphibian or rodent. These perceptions are often biased and ignorant. We want to believe that we have cultivated our pets to be close family companions who can decipher our emotions and desire to be loved.

If new studies reveal that animals are not as conscious as we once thought, how will that affect our relationships with our pets?
I believe that most people who have pets will not change their behavior and attitude towards their pets. People want to believe their pet companions are aware and conscious of the bond between them. They won’t believe that their pets are incapable of accepting their friendship or that they merely depend on them for their basic needs, i.e. food and shelter. People who have had pets throughout their lives will never believe that the “bond” they once shared with their pets was a fabrication and myth create in their heads. However, I do believe that people who have never had pets before would find it easy to believe that pet owners were wrong all along and that their pets served as a warped place to put their love. Perhaps they would say that pet owners had convinced themselves for so long that they could never see it any other way.