Yes I know about serotonin etc, but why does the stimulus of petting a fluffy critter evoke that response in the first place?
My personal uninformed armchair theory: We’re apes, and apes pick bugs out of each other’s fur to bond as a group. But when our ancestors forsook the trees for the plains, we shed our fur to gained sweat glands in order to become the ultimate persistence hunters. Yet the urge to groom remains. We have no fur and we must pet.
For me, I think it’s because I know the animal enjoys it. I love my dog, and can do something for him that he enjoys.
We can’t pet most of other adult… So animal do fine.
As others have said, it’s the oxytocin. You can measure blood serum levels of it in both the human and the dog (that’s the study I remember, probably other mammals would get the same effect) and see it rise when petting occurs. Oxytocin is the ‘love and be loved’ chemical, and that’s a good feeling that your brain will desire to get more of. Classic operational conditioning (as opposed to the classic classic conditioning).
Now, as to why oxytocin is released when the petting is going on? Probably it’s just ‘leftover’ stimuli chains that created the familial bonds when you are held as a baby. It’s not deleterious, so it wasn’t selected against in evolution, and in many ways it is beneficial, so it’s likely that it was a trait that was selected for.
I have not been able to find this again, but I swear that I once read a study where they had measured oxytocin levels while stimulating a badgers nipples. I just want to see the person who did this. Anyways, it worked as expected, and they had some data on which frequency worked best. Iirc it was one slow stroke every 1.5 seconds. Which is kind of the pace I pet cats to relax.
Relevant documentary on The Science of Touch I watched a few years back. I think they mention force and speed matter in stimulating oxytocin.
I would also consider the evolutionary advantage of having pets. Dogs help hunt and herd and cats help with farm pests that could spread disease. It just makes sense that societies that accepted that help and encouraged the symbiotic relationship would fare better than those that didn’t.
Also I hope the news is right: racoons are next on the list. We need to pet the racoons. It’s a matter of national security.
it’s Mutual aid by Kropotkin all the way down
I think it’s oxytocin people get from touch?
much soft, very purr, so cuddle
i relate
I know it releases that same chemical in the brain that is released between a mother and baby when breastfeeding. I forget the chemical name… I keep having “oxycotin” pop up in my head, but that’s a painkiller. 🤔
Oxytosin? Not sure on the spelling
Oxytocin. That’s it. Same letters as the painkiller, but in a different order. That’s why I kept thinking of the painkiller 🤣
Love is the ultimate painkiller?
That’s the hit song from my doctors weekend garage band.
But… Love hurts. 😩
Edit: i didn’t realize the watermark completely obscured the word conundrum 😭
It’s mutually beneficial and releases oxytocin the love hormone
This is it. I shouldnt have had to scroll this far down.
Symbiotic relationship. Good kitty kill mice that would eat our grain.
Well personally, my feelings on this subject matter can be condensed down to a few words:
“I love kitties.”
🐸Feels good, man🐸
I’m sure alien species with more intelligence, strength and ability than us might do the same with us if they landed on our planet.
“I’m a person and I have personal space!” --me if this ever happens.
I’d cuddle with an alien, sounds dope
Then when you ‘come of age’ … you get entered into the Human fights where aliens get to bet on winners and losers.
That sounds less dope
Its not just humans. There are many cases of different animals taking care of the young of another species.
Seems to be mostly a mammal thing. OTOH, I’ve seen videos of dumb-as-fuck chickens raising kittens and completely different bird species.
For me it’s bonding with the animal. They like it, I like it, and we’re just chill together.
