From human wellbeing to animal welfare

Area of Science:

• Animal Welfare Science
• Ethology
• Philosophy of Well-being

Background:

• Defining 'wellbeing' in humans is complex, often categorized into hedonic, eudaimonic, and social components.
• Current animal welfare science primarily focuses on avoiding negative states, with less emphasis on positive experiences or flourishing.
• Bridging human wellbeing theory and animal welfare offers a novel perspective for research and practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the applicability of human wellbeing theoretical frameworks to animal welfare.
• To introduce a triarchic model (hedonic, eudaimonic, social) for understanding animal welfare.
• To stimulate new research directions and practical applications in animal welfare.

Main Methods:

• Review of current human wellbeing research, focusing on hedonic, eudaimonic, and social dimensions.
• Conceptual definition and measurement approaches for each human wellbeing construct.
• Analysis of how these human-centric frameworks can be adapted for nonhuman animals.

Main Results:

• Human wellbeing research provides a structured approach (hedonic, eudaimonic, social) applicable to animal welfare.
• Each dimension (hedonic, eudaimonic, social welfare) can be considered a distinct yet complementary aspect of overall animal welfare.
• This framework offers a more nuanced understanding beyond solely negative welfare indicators.

Conclusions:

• Theoretical frameworks of human wellbeing can be beneficially extended to the study of animal welfare.
• Recognizing hedonic, eudaimonic, and social welfare components offers a more holistic approach to animal well-being.
• This interdisciplinary approach can advance both theoretical understanding and practical applications in animal welfare science.