When an animal sees a creature weaker than itself, it’ll take it as an oppurtunity to kill and eat said creature. However, when a human sees a creature weaker than itself, like lets say, a small animal dying of heatstroke on the road during a hot summer day, the human will often help the creature, despite having no benefit in doing so. Why is this? For literally every animal except herbivores, the natural instinct would push you to kill and consume said creature without a second thought, why are humans different? O**bviously I know this isn’t universally applicable**, hunters enjoy killing creatures that are defenseless, but MOST people, from my experience atleast, don’t feel any bloodlust or hunger or any instinctual push to kill when confronted with a weak creature that is struggling, but rather compassion.
In: Biology
I’m willing to bet that this is more of a modern phenomenon that’s resulted from our current attitudes around animals.
Animal rights and pet culture have allowed us to develop more compassion around animals.
Do you have pity for a struggling spider? Most people don’t. Another poster was correct in stating that this applies to “cute” animals.
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