Honor Among Rats

In an unusual example of empathy in animals other than primates, new research shows that rats will liberate their distressed cagemates from a trap, even when they get no additional reward. Unlike the more common "emotional contagion," wherein an animal experiences the emotions of others, empathy has often been considered unique to primates. Although empathy does overlap somewhat with emotional contagion, an empathetic animal can "put itself in another's shoes" while maintaining its own perspective and emotional separation.

This research appears in the 9 December issue of the journal Science.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• rats
• science
• honor
• emotion
• AAAS
• Science (journal)
• empathy
• animals
• research

[silverkeen07]

Now if we could teach this to humans that would be a breakthrough

[blonny82]

To us it looks like mice helping each other out, but maybe to them it's like season 1 of prison break. The mouse is just building the right connections before the big break. Muahahaha!!

[260191894]

As a biologist, it is nonsense to believe that morality is only for humans and is derived from religion. Homosexuality is not a "sin": it is observable throughout the animal kingdom: dolphins, giraffes, apes,... People should help themselves to a science book rather than holy books and philosophical books. A lot of things are simply natural.

[flibber123]

Maybe it isn't empathy. Maybe the 'free' rat is envious of the trapped rat. Maybe in his mind he's thinking "Why should he have his own room? Get his ass out here."

[jetli80]

I guess wall street is less than rats.

[thadude1337]

@silverkeen07 perfect comment

[Drvelasco45]

@ssh83 I read from the magazine article that they had no previous contact. I still have a lot of questions around this study because there might be correlation but not necessarily empathy what is driving this behavior.

[Ladychyde13]

Anyone who has had a rat for pet already knows this. They are sweet and loving animals. People need to learn from them.

[ssh83]

do the rats know each other before hand?