This page contains resources to encourage empathising with animals which may be useful when discussing plans for animal studies or (as part of retrospective assessment) during evaluation of studies that have already been conducted.
Penny Hawkins (RSPCA, 2024) has produced a group exercise suitable for animal ethics or care and use committees (such as AWBs, IACUCs and AWERBs). The exercise may also be useful in training sessions for those who use, or care for, lab animals. It may also be used in breakouts to make meetings on any topic more interactive. The RSPCA suggests allowing 30 to 60 minutes per session. These materials may be shared freely and adapted to local conditions:
- Empathising with animals - case studies (Word file)
- Empathising with animals - feedback tables (Word file)
- Empathising with animals - background slides (ppt)
More resources
- Beckoff (2004): Encyclopedia of Behavior
- Matignon (2006) The Emotional Life of Animals
- Beckoff (2007): The Emotional Lives of Animals
- Bartal et al. (2011): Empathy and Pro-Social Behavior in Rats
- Gómez-Leal et al. (2021): Relationship between emotional intelligence and empathy towards humans and animals
- Dufourcq (2021): The Imaginary of Animals
- Clicker training: search in the Refinement Wiki
- Good Science, Good Sense and Good Sensibilities
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