4 ms·

hi i mostly liked your thought trail there, but if you've ever adopted a shelter dog they most definitely regret the past (they clearly experience nightmares)

wombatmobile 5y ago
That's a thoughtful, considered observation, that adds plenty to this discussion. Your comment is a positive exemplar of the application of the human neocortex.
mkr-hn 5y ago
A relative got a dog from what was obviously an unqualified breeder. The dog was always anxious, distressed, waiting at the window. One day I pet him on the back without making sure he heard me coming. He nipped me in panic, then ran and hid. It was obvious he thought I was going to hit him for it. And since I would never, that must have been from a past experience. I think he was actually dissociating since I sat there with him for about 10 minutes and he didn't move at all, just stared off into a wall. He finally snapped out of it and accepted one (1) headpat.
- Tycho 5y ago
  Are there pet psychologists who can cure this sort of thing? (serious question)
  - thephyber 5y ago
    Behavioral-specialist trainers for dogs. Most dog trainers do most of their useful training on the dog owner, not the dog. The trainer gives the owner guidance and strategies for conditioning out these undesirable behaviors and the owner should continue training the dog for the duration of their relationship. There are classical conditioning strategies which can reduce stress/anxiety of the dog, increase the dog’s socialization / reduce reactivity to stimuli in the environment (like and unexpected touch), and increase the bond between dog and human. Obviously the more severe the trauma, the longer it takes to counter condition the stress response.
playpause 5y ago
I think trauma is different. It’s more like scar tissue in your psyche, caused by a specific event but affecting the shape of your thoughts and inclinations in general. Regret is conscious reflection on past mistakes, imagining how things could have been, etc. A bad experience can lead to regret, or trauma, or both, or neither.
joegahona 5y ago
How do you know what they're having is nightmares?
- bittercynic 5y ago
  My dog (who spent about 3 months in a shelter) sometimes "talks in his sleep", making sounds like he is scared/stressed about something. Other times he makes happier sounds while sleeping. It seems pretty clear that he's experiencing a range of emotions in his dreams, but I don't think it necessarily means reliving specific events.

wombatmobile 5y ago

That's a thoughtful, considered observation, that adds plenty to this discussion. Your comment is a positive exemplar of the application of the human neocortex.

mkr-hn 5y ago

A relative got a dog from what was obviously an unqualified breeder. The dog was always anxious, distressed, waiting at the window. One day I pet him on the back without making sure he heard me coming. He nipped me in panic, then ran and hid. It was obvious he thought I was going to hit him for it. And since I would never, that must have been from a past experience. I think he was actually dissociating since I sat there with him for about 10 minutes and he didn't move at all, just stared off into a wall. He finally snapped out of it and accepted one (1) headpat.

Tycho 5y ago
Are there pet psychologists who can cure this sort of thing? (serious question)
- thephyber 5y ago
  Behavioral-specialist trainers for dogs. Most dog trainers do most of their useful training on the dog owner, not the dog. The trainer gives the owner guidance and strategies for conditioning out these undesirable behaviors and the owner should continue training the dog for the duration of their relationship. There are classical conditioning strategies which can reduce stress/anxiety of the dog, increase the dog’s socialization / reduce reactivity to stimuli in the environment (like and unexpected touch), and increase the bond between dog and human. Obviously the more severe the trauma, the longer it takes to counter condition the stress response.

playpause 5y ago

I think trauma is different. It’s more like scar tissue in your psyche, caused by a specific event but affecting the shape of your thoughts and inclinations in general. Regret is conscious reflection on past mistakes, imagining how things could have been, etc. A bad experience can lead to regret, or trauma, or both, or neither.

joegahona 5y ago

How do you know what they're having is nightmares?

bittercynic 5y ago
My dog (who spent about 3 months in a shelter) sometimes "talks in his sleep", making sounds like he is scared/stressed about something. Other times he makes happier sounds while sleeping. It seems pretty clear that he's experiencing a range of emotions in his dreams, but I don't think it necessarily means reliving specific events.