Join Mariska Kret and animal caretakers from ARTIS in a conversation about anthropomorphism; humanising animals. Good idea or not?
Human glasses
We look at the world through our human glasses; also when we try to interpret the behaviour of other animals. At home, when we try to figure out what Felix is thinking, in ARTIS, but also in the world of cognitive behavioural biology.
Humanisation
Scientists and animal keepers are constantly careful not to humanise the behaviour of the animals they study or care for. Doing so benefits neither the research on an animal nor its welfare. Yet it often seems impossible to look at animals without comparing them to ourselves. After all, humans are also animals… right?
Is it actually possible to avoid humanisation? How do we know if we are not accidentally humanising ourselves after all? Does it matter?
Mariska Kret in conversation with animal care centre ARTIS
In this edition of Groote Museum Vraagt, we look at ‘humanisation’ from two perspectives. Mariska Kret, professor of cognitive psycholgy, takes us into the world of behavioural biology. And an animal keeper from ARTIS explains how this subject is dealt with in daily practice.