News
Trans-Species Psychology I : Theory and Practice
May 09, 2008, 6:6PM MT
By Denise A LeBeau
Animals pay the price because we see ourselves as separate from nature!
Animals pay the price because we see ourselves as separate from nature!
This summer, The Kerulos Center will host a cutting edge course held in Ashland, that explores the minds and emotions of all animals, including humans from June 16 – 19. They will review the physiology, neuroscience, behavior and psychology of animals that have suffered from trauma, abuse and neglect. The course will focus on the diagnosis, therapeutic treatment, and care of animals, addressing both their psychological and emotional recovery. The course is intended for sanctuary professionals, students in conservation, ethology, and other animal–related disciplines, animal and human mental health professionals, and others seeking knowledge about the emotional and psychological lives of animals.
Dr. Gay Bradshaw is a pioneer in the field of trans-species psychology, and brought to light the now well-known elephant breakdown that is occurring in Asia and Africa. The continuing and exhaustive onslaught worldwide against elephants in the wild and captivity, has caused severe trauma in these peaceful pachyderms. Elephants now show the same symptoms as people who have suffered similarly from war, genocide, and other violence. And their ordeal is far from over. Just this month, South Africa has lifted a moratorium on the use of culls-systematic killing—the same conservation methods that precipitated elephant "rage" that killed over one hundred rhinoceroses. [For more information on how you can help the elephants of South Africa, click here]The timeliness of this seminar couldn’t more poignant, not only does the interconnectivity among all animals become more apparent, but you’ll learn more about yourself too!
“One of the most important things that trans-species psychology teaches is that we just aren't that different from other species. Perhaps the only meaningful difference is that we have thought we were so different, Trans-species Psychology values the individual and their subjective experience. Psychology compels us to see symptoms that suffering causes-- self injury, violence, depression – as communication, communication of someone trying to cope and deal with pain, And this holds for all species. If you look at models and behavior of the brain, it is similar in every animal. Knowing this makes us have even greater compassion. But even though the data and theory have been around a long time, a lot of scientists, and many in the public at large, don't like to admit that animals can think, feel, and have a psyche like humans. Recognizing this level of commonality across species dissolves the age-old rationale that kept humans apart, and above, animals. The term ‘trans-species’ is just really conceptual nail polish remover, I It takes away the hierarchy of ‘us’ and ‘them’." Dr. Bradshaw, explained further.
“We are looking towards a major paradigm in science and society—one that is well overdue. The wheels of the cultural momentum are beginning to turn. Everyday, people changing their attitudes towards animals, like becoming a vegan or a vegetarian, living a trans-species life in multi-species families. Animals are beginning to be seen as individuals that have feelings, emotions, and suffer, on the same level as humans. A whole new science and ethic is unfolding. And a new human identity that is part of a bigger whole.” Bradshaw added.
Dr. Lori Marino is another maverick in this growing field of Trans-Species Psychology and is a featured speaker at the upcoming course. Her twenty years in the field of studying animal behavior, starting with dolphins, lends her a credibility that exceeds the average animal lover, but she is concerned that the science community is still reticent to get involved in animals advocacy.
“Most scientists don’t want to get labeled as an “animal rights activist” and very few scientists will go out of their way professionally on behalf of animals. Letting students know that it’s okay to be a scientist and an advocate is one of our missions! This new discipline [Trans-Species Psychology] is a new niche that we hope to fill! We can’t stick our heads in the sand – we need people to get out there and use their knowledge and training for the benefit of other animals and the planet. As a scientist it’s even more important to become an advocate. People need better perspective about who we are in relation to other species on the planet. We are opening up a dialogue that puts compassion and respect on the table,” Dr. Marino shared some of their important goals!
“Understanding an animal on his or her own terms, there’s something similar to all cats, horses, people, but then there’s the individual, and studying the individual is imperative. Trans-Species puts everyone on the same playing field. We’re not saying that we (as people) are identical to other animals, we’re not anthropomorphizing, but we are acknowledging that we all have attributes that are similar: emotions, psyche, ethics. Throughout history, there have been groups of people considered to be ‘inferior’ and those people have been put in zoos, used, exploited and abused, there’s a continuous thread that you don’t have to look very hard to see. We are looking at animals as they are, they are not ‘inferior’ – they’re individuals deserving of respect!”
“We think the time is right – the data is overwhelming for a major paradigm shift. One of the universal problems we face (as a society) is the way we treat ‘the other’: children, the elderly, the sick. Other animals feel pain, have social bonds, family, and we can’t keep treating them like they don’t. Animals pay the price because we see ourselves as separate from nature!”
Get Involved!
To read more about the Trans-Species Psychology: Theory and Practice, A Summer Intensive Course,click here.
To sign up for the course, please contact Ms. Claire Cross of Southern Oregon University by emailing her at cross@sou.edu or call 541-552-6334
For a printable flyer to share with colleagues and friends, click here.
by Denise LeBeau, Best Friends staff
lead image by Phoebe Greene Linden, guest lecturer
images courtesy of Best Friends & Kerulos Center