Mr Lovat BiologyRabbit Breeding Club
“Mr Lovat’s lessons are as invigorating as captaining England.” Gani Nuredini (England U18 football captain) |
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Physical Contact - Links between Rabbit Breeding and Psychology
Hormone Oxytocin in produced in response to contact
Hormone released during physical contact – sometimes called the love hormone. Some studies have shown that oxytocin has strong effects on trust and generosity, making it an important chemical in human social interaction.
Reading/Research: Snowdon et al. (2010) Variation in oxytocin levels is associated with variation in affiliative behavior in monogamous pairbonded tamarins, Hormones and Behavior.
Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFAdlU2ETjU
We respond differentially to ‘Cute Faces’
Many researchers have suggested that evolution has pre-programmed us to want to take care of younger creatures – we see young of a species as being ‘cute’. This response to cute faces is called ‘social releasers’ and is part of Attachment Theory suggested by Bowlby (1969).
Borgi et al. (2014) Baby schema in human and animal faces induces cuteness perception and gaze allocation in children
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00411/full
Ted Talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_XdI6IkiM8
Health Benefits of Pets
Studies have shown that physiological changes occur when people touch animals – specifically, a drop in heart rate, lower blood pressure, and a reduction in stress.
National Geographic Article on the health benefits of pets: http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2009/09/29/health_and_emotional_benefits_of_pets/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuAes1Q-6Bs
Physical contact is necessary for normal development
There have been many research studies that have shown that lack of physical contact causes severe emotional trauma.
So called ‘Monkey love experiments’ Harry Harlow (1950s) conducted a series of experiments where baby monkeys were deprived on different types of contact. Some were brought up in isolation. These experiments are controversial and raise ethical issues. http://pages.uoregon.edu/adoption/studies/HarlowMLE.htm
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrNBEhzjg8I
Hormone Oxytocin in produced in response to contact
Hormone released during physical contact – sometimes called the love hormone. Some studies have shown that oxytocin has strong effects on trust and generosity, making it an important chemical in human social interaction.
Reading/Research: Snowdon et al. (2010) Variation in oxytocin levels is associated with variation in affiliative behavior in monogamous pairbonded tamarins, Hormones and Behavior.
Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFAdlU2ETjU
We respond differentially to ‘Cute Faces’
Many researchers have suggested that evolution has pre-programmed us to want to take care of younger creatures – we see young of a species as being ‘cute’. This response to cute faces is called ‘social releasers’ and is part of Attachment Theory suggested by Bowlby (1969).
Borgi et al. (2014) Baby schema in human and animal faces induces cuteness perception and gaze allocation in children
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00411/full
Ted Talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_XdI6IkiM8
Health Benefits of Pets
Studies have shown that physiological changes occur when people touch animals – specifically, a drop in heart rate, lower blood pressure, and a reduction in stress.
National Geographic Article on the health benefits of pets: http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2009/09/29/health_and_emotional_benefits_of_pets/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuAes1Q-6Bs
Physical contact is necessary for normal development
There have been many research studies that have shown that lack of physical contact causes severe emotional trauma.
So called ‘Monkey love experiments’ Harry Harlow (1950s) conducted a series of experiments where baby monkeys were deprived on different types of contact. Some were brought up in isolation. These experiments are controversial and raise ethical issues. http://pages.uoregon.edu/adoption/studies/HarlowMLE.htm
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrNBEhzjg8I