Do animals have cognitive biases like the humans? In a study conducted by researchers from the University of Lincoln, 36 pigs were given a set of bowls: one with chocolates and the other with coffee bean and placed in their designated location.
The result of the experiment were published in the journal Biology Letters and concluded that animals with their intellectual capability also do decision making as what humans do, depending on their moods and personality.
According to BBC News, the researchers concluded that the optimistic types of pigs are those who looked for another bowl hoping for other food other than the chocolates and coffee beans. The positive and negative thinking into animals do exist according to the study.
Our personalities determine what reaction we will have given a different situation. An optimistic will always look unto the bright side and in a proactive attitude while a pessimist will have a different approach in a complete opposite to the optimist.
The actions of the pigs just proved that animals do have decision-making processes and have cognitive biases. No other animals were studied the same way before and the test on pigs came up with unexpected results.
In the experiment the pigs were trained to identify which bowl has chocolates and coffee beans. The bowls were sugarcoated to prevent the pigs to sniff other things aside the bowls.
The researchers now added extra bowl in between the bowls of chocolate and coffee bean. Before the experiment the pigs came from different living conditions. Some of the pigs were in the economy lodgings; some are from the deluxe room. The latter also had a more comfortable layer of straw.
Based on the personalities of the pigs the proactive ones would reach for the third bowl in the center without knowing what is has. While the reactive ones were more likely reach the third bowl if they have been living in the comfortable deluxe room.
The experiment concluded that environment plays a vital role on the behavior of the pigs. The pigs whoe were provide by more comfort are the ones looking for the third bowl while the ones living in the basic lodging will act reactively. However the optimistic pigs will seek for the third bowl regardless of the conditions they are living in.
