Principles governing human and animal behavior

The desire to meet daily needs drives our behavior. The principle governing human and animal behavior may include the following: Emotions; it is an internal feeling that goes along with physical and behavioral changes.  Some emotions can be greater than others, while some are fierce than others. Examples of emotions include love, disgust, passion, sadness, anger, and pride. The sophistication of our emotions separates us from animals (Panksepp, 2005). There are four main emotions: James Lange theory, Cannon-bard theory, Facial-feedback theory, and Schachter’s two-factor theory.

Motivation refers to a set of factors that initiate, direct, and sustain a behavior, usually towards a certain goal. There are three classifications of motivational theory: Psychosocial, biological, and biopsychosocial. Psychosocial incentive theory; our objectives activate us. Biological instinct theory: Genetic survival drives our behaviors. Drive reduction theory: An activated behavior happens to decrease physiological imbalances into a balanced state. Arousal theory: Creatures look for an optimal level of performance that escalates their performance. Biopsychosocial Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Has five classification of motivated behavior from the simplest to the most complex. Maslow maintained that we must work through every category of need to reach the most complex category. At self- actualization, one attains his or her full potential. There are two types of motivation, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation is performing a task from within, without any external factor being involved. It means that what a person is doing comes from inside and is interesting and exciting. For example, graduating with a degree in a profession that you really had a passion for. Extrinsic motivation; an external force drives the performance of a task, for example studying hard in exams because one does not want to fail or to put on nice outfits to look like your friends. Motivation only becomes permanent if it is being felt from the inside (Korman, 1974).

An environment in which people reside. For example, in a classroom, teachers will tend to influence students more than an external force to perform better in their exams. Animals in farms, zoos, or homes always come into contact with people at some point. Social interaction can be an important part of their environment, and this increases the animals’ welfare. The association between laboratory animals and staff is an important feature in the ethical management of research facilities. Friendly interactions are crucial for the welfare of the animal and the result of the experimental projects. Human affection, like sensitivity and compassion regarding animals, builds a bond. In a French laboratory, social interaction between staff and animals is enriched and represents the major activity in the environment endowment programs. Cats, dogs, rabbits, minipigs are always socialized and primed to become familiar with manipulations. It makes the animals assertive and the method easier and most effective. It also fosters an emotional attachment with people who feel more occupied and inspired to render high-quality care both physically and behaviorally.  Therefore, a positive human-animal relationship could result in a perfect environment where each person’s experience is helpful and can affect welfare accordingly.

The human being cannot hold on to life without society, and the community cannot keep going without the members. Emotions play a vital function in how we imagine and carry ourselves. Emotions enable us to be understood better by other people. They can understand how we feel through body language, such as facial expressions. Additionally, when we state to others like our family members and friends that we are excited or sad, this gives them a hint that makes them take appropriate action. Emotions also enable us to understand how others feel. According to Charles Darwin, when one happens to be in contact with a hissing or a spitting animal, it shows that the animal is angry, and the person needs to avoid the danger by walking away. Motivation enables us to work toward achieving our goals. For example, in a classroom situation, if a student performs better, they will be praised for good performance. The need for affiliation shows how a person needs to be involved in a social group such as friends. The importance of affiliation is that we are biologically created to live, grow, and play, and we are social beings by nature. Affiliation enables us to interact with others; it is like a motivation that drives us towards others to create good relationships with others. The environment; at each juncture of life, people are entangled in a vital social field. In previous years, the first social interaction of a person was family, school, classroom, and peer group. The social fields then develop over time through adolescence to marriage as a social field. The social field forms a friendly environment where individuals can interact freely. An example is in a school setting with teacher-learner interactions during lectures.

References

Korman, A. K. (1974). The psychology of motivation. . Prentice-Hall.

Panksepp, J. (2005). “Affective consciousness: Core emotional feelings in animals and humans. Consciousness and cognition, 14, no. 1, 30-80.