An animal will always choose the action they believe is in their best interest in a given moment. All creatures, humans included, have a hierarchy of “base” needs to be fulfilled like hunger, rest, or thirst. After these are fulfilled, reproductive and social needs can be assessed. Because humans cannot communicate with animals (the way we do with eachother) we assume that their needs are less complicated than ours. This is because we tend to look at the world and the animals in it in the context of humanity, or what they believe a “real human” would do in a certain situation. A narrow definition of a proper human response makes it impossible for all to meet the expectation at all times. Besides policing how other humans behave and respond to things, we tend to view animal behavior through a human lens. The rules simply do not apply to animal behavior, and naturally, the animal will never live up to the human expectation. What can be learned from looking at things from an animal perspective?

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Control over emotional reaction is supposed to be a human trait. If you are a good human, you are always in control of your reaction. Visible or strong emotions are labeled as base or animalistic. If you are angry and a woman: you’re hysteric. If you are angry and black: you’re violent. Emotional response has been used to further “evidence” that some people are less human than others.