all animals are waaay more aware than we realize (or can bear to realize), but it’s going to take forever to officially prove because we have to start from the place of them needing to prove that they:
may also have an internal awareness of their own bodies
I fully agree with you. We try to prove animals have deep self awareness by human standards. The thing is that animals don’t think like humans do, so it’s difficult to prove it but I’m very sure most of them are self-aware
When my cat looks at her reflection and makes noises at the “other cat” on the other side if the mirror, I’m pretty sure she’s not aware of how she looks like
That isn’t true for all cats though, many are fully aware they’re seeing themselves. As with humans, individuals of any other species have different levels of intelligence.
This is gonna be unpopular but it’s kinda hard to hop on that train when most animals fight their own reflection in a mirror. It’s even like half and half for dogs
Edit: I love dogs and animals, I just think we should be realistic and not go too crazy on the subject from our natural love of them
My friend’s dog was extremely self aware, more than most dogs I would say (not an expert), but would still try and eat its own poop.
FYI for anyone else who has this issue, I changed my previous pups food and he stopped trying to eat his poo so maybe it was a slight nutritional imbalance or something.
My dog is very aware that if his self isn’t given belly scratches by me at any given time, he has to start scratching at me with his paw until I do.
He’s gotten me in the eye like three times. Little bastard. He’s lucky he’s so cute.
Are mirrors really a good test of self awareness?
Aren’t they just testing the understanding of reflections?
Aside from it recognizing its own reflection, don’t tons of animals square off before fighting? White tailed deer are dumb as fuck but two bucks will dance around before sparing to size up the opponent I’ve had cichlids that do the same kind of shit when they’re territorial. Sizing up the other fish before fighting for the best chill spot in the tank.
Anyone who has owned an African cichlid can tell you that pet fish can have a big personality. Used to have one that loved making nests in the gravel, and would spit little rocks at the glass to get your attention. He’d also spit water if the tank top was open. He would do little dances when you’d talk to him
