Beyond Human Comparisons: The Importance of Scientific Rigor in Understanding Animal Behavior

Hobson’s studies on animals such as monk parakeets in UC’s College of Arts and Sciences have shown that when a high-ranking parakeet takes an extended break from the colony, it is often bullied by the other members upon its return. Bullying is a concept commonly used to describe human behavior, but it also made for relevant shorthand to describe bird behavior they were documenting, Hobson told the Atlantic.

When asked about the importance of distinguishing between animal behavior and anthropomorphism in scientific research, Hobson emphasized that researchers should use caution when attributing human-like traits to animal behavior. Instead, she recommended that scientists rely on evidence and data to explain behaviors accurately.

“We need to be really careful when engaging in any kind of anthropomorphism so that we are not inferring the root cause of a behavior in animals as human-like without evidence and data to back it up,” she said. Hobson also stressed the importance of being aware of our inclination to anthropomorphize to prevent bias from creeping into data collection or analysis.

Hobson believes that while it can be helpful to use anthropomorphism as an analogy or approach, researchers need to go out and collect data and evidence if they want to explain a behavior in a way that is usually thought of as human. By doing so, scientists can ensure that their research remains objective and free from bias.