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Optimism and pessimism: a concept for behavioural ecology
Viktoria Siewert1, Sylvia Kaiser1, Norbert Sachser1
1Institute for Neuro- and Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Badestr. 13, Münster, 48149, Germany.
Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
|December 23, 2024
Summary
Animal optimism and pessimism, once used for welfare, are now explored for ecological implications. This research suggests these traits influence adaptation and environmental adjustment in animals.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Animal Welfare Science
- Animal Psychology
Background:
- The concepts of optimism and pessimism, originating from human psychology, were applied to animal welfare science approximately 20 years ago.
- These concepts have become valuable indicators of animal welfare, but their ecological implications remain understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To bridge the gap between animal welfare concepts and behavioral ecology.
- To explore the ecological implications of optimism and pessimism in non-human animals.
- To highlight the potential of these concepts in understanding animal adaptation and environmental adjustment.
Main Methods:
- Reviewing the application of optimism and pessimism in animal welfare science.
- Analyzing the conceptual links between optimism/pessimism and animal personality traits.
- Discussing the role of optimism/pessimism in individual adjustment to environmental heterogeneity, including niche choice and conformance.
Main Results:
- Optimism and pessimism can be viewed as facets of animal personality.
- Variations in optimism/pessimism play a significant role in adaptation to environmental heterogeneity.
- Optimism/pessimism influences how animals adjust to environmental changes, potentially impacting behavioral plasticity.
Conclusions:
- Transferring optimism and pessimism concepts to behavioral ecology offers valuable insights into animal adaptation.
- Understanding individual differences in optimism/pessimism is crucial for predicting animal responses to environmental change.
- Future research should investigate the differential behavioral plasticity of 'optimists' versus 'pessimists' in changing environments.
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