The Importance of Human Emotions for Wildlife Conservation

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: June 24, 2020

Animals have always been important for human life due to the ecological, cultural and economic functions that they represent. This has allowed building several kinds of relationships promoted different emotions in societies. The objective this review was identify main humans show towards wildlife species impact such on animal populations’ management. We reviewed academic databases previous studies topic worldwide. An analysis factors causing them is described here. identified a controversy about these emotions. Large predators as wolves, coyotes, bears, big felids, well reptiles snakes geckos promote mainly anger, fear, disgust. likely perceptions, beliefs experiences societies historically built around them. However, some social groups animals happiness their values people. Likewise, sadness an emotion expressed threatening situations are facing nowadays. Furthermore, we associated conservation status study with discuss relevance emerging strategies, particularly focused endangered promoting ambiguous groups.

Language: Английский

---

Does aversion to insects affect insecticide use? An elusive answer calls for improved methods in biophobia research

People and Nature, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 6(3), P. 1001 - 1014

Published: Jan. 16, 2024

Abstract Insecticides are commonly used to control insects and other arthropods in homes (hereafter collectively referred as ‘insects’). Although aversion might encourage the use of insecticides, it is unclear whether such feelings truly influence decision insecticides. We investigated connection between disgust towards household Our aim was uncover unexplored emotional drivers insecticide use, order provide insights that help develop new programmes reduce exposure conducted an online survey ( n = 2500) focussed on six species found (cockroaches, ants, spiders, mosquitoes, flies centipedes). Respondents rated their level these reported various beliefs practices related insect control. Approximately 70% respondents expressed strong (ratings 6 or 7 a scale 1–7). More than half (53.3%) using aerosol insecticides months prior survey. Path analyses highlighted several factors influenced including infestation level, intensity, lack knowledge about chemicals. However, observed effect sizes were modest, particularly regarding which somewhat constrains our study's contribution understanding motivators driving use. explain how findings potentially reflect critical methodological limitation standard methods for measuring biophobia (fear nature) research. This originates from fact highly aversive animals often provoke extreme reactions most participants, resulting very low data variation hinders analysis. address this concern context propose potential solutions could pave way future research attitudes affect individuals, society, relationships people nature. Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

---

Animal Images Database: Validation of 120 Images for Human-Animal Studies

Animals, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 9(8), P. 475 - 475

Published: July 24, 2019

There has been increasing interest in the study of human-animal relations. This contrasts with lack normative resources and materials for research purposes. We present subjective norms a set 120 open-source colour images animals spanning total 12 biological categories (e.g., mammals, insects, reptiles, arachnids). Participants (N = 509, 55.2% female, MAge 28.05, SD 9.84) were asked to evaluate randomly selected sub-set on valence, arousal, familiarity, cuteness, dangerousness, edibility, similarity humans, capacity think, feel, acceptability kill human consumption feelings care protection. Animal evaluations affected by individual characteristics perceiver, particularly gender, diet companion animal ownership. Moral attitudes towards predominantly predicted ratings feel familiarity. The Images Database (Animal.ID) is largest database rated animals; stimuli item-level data are freely available online.

Language: Английский

---

Ethics and Care: For Animals, Not Just Mammals

Animals, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 9(12), P. 1018 - 1018

Published: Nov. 22, 2019

In the last few decades, we have made great strides in recognizing ethics and providing care for animals, but focus has been mainly on mammals. This stems from a bias of attention not only research predominantly non-scientists’ (to ‘popular’ animals), resulting partly discussion about depiction animals publications addressed to public. is somewhat due political pressure, can result uneven conservation efforts biases targets welfare concerns. As result, there huge backlash again, with concerns pain sensitivity fish, less focused more pervasive omission consideration all invertebrates. That means are 0.2% animal species planet, education non-mammals, particularly children, necessary broaden this fully inhabitants planet.

Language: Английский

---

The Ultimate List of the Most Frightening and Disgusting Animals: Negative Emotions Elicited by Animals in Central European Respondents

Animals, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(3), P. 747 - 747

Published: March 9, 2021

Animals have always played an important role in our everyday life. They are given more attention than inanimate objects, which been adaptive during the evolution of mankind, with some animal species still presenting a real threat to us. In this study, we focused on usually evaluated as scariest and most disgusting kingdom. We analyzed characteristics (e.g., weight, potential for humans) influence their evaluation nonclinical Central European WEIRD population (Western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic). The tested animals were divided into two separated sets containing 34 standardized photos evoking predominantly one negative emotion, fear or disgust. pictures ranked according emotional intensity by 160 adult respondents high inter-rater agreement. fear-eliciting mostly large vertebrates carnivorans, ungulates, sharks, crocodiles), whereas smaller fear-evoking represented snakes invertebrates arachnids. disgust-evoking human endo- ectoparasites visually resembling them. Humans emotionally react that represent threat; however, identifying truly dangerous might be harder. results also support somewhat special position spiders.

Language: Английский

---

Emotional Reaction to Fear- and Disgust-Evoking Snakes: Sensitivity and Propensity in Snake-Fearful Respondents

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: Jan. 28, 2020

This paper continues our previous study in which we examined the respondents' reaction to two morphologically different snake stimuli categories – one evoking exclusively fear and another disgust. Here acquired Likert-type scale scores of disgust evoked by same a total 330 respondents. Moreover, collected data about age, gender, education, (Snake Questionnaire, SNAQ), propensity (Disgust Scale-Revised, DS-R), analyzed effect these variables on emotional (with special focus snake-fearful respondents). In addition this, SNAQ DS-R from respondents tested using rank-ordering method directly compare results approaches. The showed that non-fearful give high fear-eliciting snakes disgust-eliciting snakes, but they low other dimension (disgust/fear) each. contrast, not only higher respective stimuli, also snakes. Both Likert-scale show clear border dividing both dissolves when evaluated

Language: Английский

---

Venomous snakes elicit stronger fear than nonvenomous ones: Psychophysiological response to snake images

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 15(8), P. e0236999 - e0236999

Published: Aug. 19, 2020

Snakes have been important ambush predators of both primates and human hunter-gatherers throughout their co-evolutionary history. Viperid snakes in particular are responsible for most fatal venomous snakebites worldwide thus represent a strong selective pressure. They elicit intense fear humans easily recognizable thanks to distinctive morphotype. In this study, we measured skin resistance (SR) heart rate (HR) subjects exposed snake pictures eliciting either high (10 viperid species) or disgust nonvenomous fossorial species). Venomous subjectively evaluated as frightening trigger stronger physiological response (higher SR amplitude) than repulsive non-venomous snakes. However, stimuli presented block (more stimulation) do not emotional compared sequentially (less stimulation). There significant interindividual differences with confronted images show stronger, longer-lasting, more frequent changes higher HR low-fear subjects. Thus, that demonstrate remarkable ability discriminate between dangerous viperids harmless snakes, which is also reflected distinct autonomous body responses.

Language: Английский

---

Food taboos and animal conservation: a systematic review on how cultural expressions influence interaction with wildlife species

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 19(1)

Published: July 15, 2023

Abstract Background Human societies have food taboos as social rules that restrict access to a particular animal. Taboos are pointed out tools for the conservation of animals, considering presence this rule prevents consumption animals. This work consists systematic review aimed verify how vary between different animal species, and relationship has influenced their conservation. Methods For review, search articles by keywords took place in databases “Science Direct,” Scopus,” “SciELo” “Web Science,” associating term “taboo” with taxa “amphibians,” “birds,” “mammals,” “fish” “reptiles.” From search, 3959 titles were found related key terms research. After entire screening process carried paired reviewers, only 25 included search. Results It was identified 100 species animals some type taboo, segmental specific predominant, 93 31 citations, respectively. In addition, taxon most recorded fish, followed mammals. Our findings indicate taboo protects 99% mentioned, being crucial tool these species. Conclusions The present study covered status current knowledge about associated wildlife world. is noticeable considerable effect on conservation, restrictions imposed effectively contribute local

Language: Английский

---

Why Are Some Snakes More Terrifying and What Is Behind the Fear?

Animals, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(5), P. 731 - 731

Published: March 4, 2025

Snakes are stimuli inducing an ancestral fear response in humans and other primates. Certain snakes evoke more subjective than others. True vipers high-fear-eliciting for both African European respondents. This can be explained by the evolutionary experience of human ancestors Africa. The question arises as to how living Americas Australia, with which have no experience, will evaluated. While these belong broader taxonomic groups that distant relatives Old World, they evolved independently tens millions years. We prepared a set 32 pictures depicting eight American pit vipers, Australian elapids, constrictors, colubrids asked respondents rank according evoke. Here, we show high cross-cultural agreement between evaluations characterized robust body shape, such death adders, pythons, boas, were most fear-evoking. width was strongest predictor evoked fear. contribution coloration pattern stimulus not proved. supports view patterns dependent on direct but its underlying mechanisms shared cross-culturally.

Language: Английский

---

Danger versus fear: A key to understanding biophobia

People and Nature, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 10, 2025

Abstract Which animals do people fear most, and why? Exploring animal fears in humans is crucial for understanding reactions the face of danger, addressing both innate learned determinants. Because central role they are thought to have played primate evolution, most studies focused on snakes. Other that looked at a wider range either limited number species and/or sampled participants from narrow geographical locations. To overcome these shortcomings, we developed an immersive online survey based images matches, during which had choose feared most. With responses 17,353 all continents, were able rank 184 (mammals, reptiles, birds, arthropods amphibians) scale. Our results showed dangerous elicited frequent rapid responses. However, danger alone was not sufficient explain fear, as harmless also reached high scores. Fear varied with participants' age, region residence level declared biophobia. The discrepancy between actual levels may be due social transmission increasing disconnection natural environments. This study highlights need consider wide identify understand people's certain species, integrating complex relationship ecological socio‐cultural influences. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

---