Abstract
Emotions encompass cognitive and behavioural responses to reward and punishment. Using contests as a case-study, we propose that short-term emotions underpin animals' assessments, decision-making and behaviour. Equating contest assessments to emotional ‘appraisals', we describe how contestants appraise more than resource value and outcome probability. These appraisals elicit the cognition, drive and neurophysiology that governs aggressive behaviour. We discuss how recent contest outcomes induce long-term moods, which impact subsequent contest behaviour. Finally, we distinguish between integral (objectively relevant) and incidental (objectively irrelevant) emotions and moods (affective states). Unlike existing ecological models, our approach predicts that incidental events influence contest dynamics, and that contests become incidental influences themselves, potentially causing maladaptive decision-making. As affective states cross contexts, a more holistic ethology (incorporating emotions and moods) would illuminate animal cognition and behaviour.
Original language | English |
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Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
Volume | 287 |
Issue number | 1939 |
Early online date | 18 Nov 2020 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 25 Nov 2020 |
Keywords
- affective state
- assessment
- resource value
- winner/loser effects
- resource-holding potential
- cognition