👍 Positive Welfare + Emotions + 5 Domains

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Last updated 1:14 AM on 4/6/26

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15 Terms

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Positive Animal Welfare – Scientific Interest

Opportunities for positive affective engagement
Animals interacting with their environment in ways that generate positive experiences

Quality of Life
Overall balance of positive and negative experiences

Positive Emotions
Examples include pleasure, contentment, curiosity, social bonding

Happiness
Focus on an animal’s well-being and positive affective states

<p><strong>Opportunities for positive affective engagement</strong><br> Animals interacting with their <strong>environment</strong> in ways that generate <strong>positive experiences</strong></p><p><strong>Quality of Life</strong><br> Overall <strong>balance of positive and negative experiences</strong></p><p><strong>Positive Emotions</strong><br> Examples include <strong>pleasure, contentment, curiosity, social bonding</strong></p><p><strong>Happiness</strong><br> Focus on an animal’s <strong>well-being and positive affective states</strong></p>

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Animal Mental Status – Feelings & Experiences

Welfare not solely physical
Health, stress levels, and fitness alone are not enough to determine good welfare

Subjective experience matters
Welfare depends on what animals feel

Focus on unpleasant feelings
Particularly suffering and pain are key concerns in assessing welfare

Key Researchers
Dr. Ian Duncan – emphasizes feelings over just physical state
Dr. Marian Dawkins – emphasizes unpleasant subjective experiences

<p><strong>Welfare not solely physical</strong><br> <strong>Health, stress levels, and fitness</strong> alone are <strong>not enough</strong> to determine good welfare</p><p><strong>Subjective experience matters</strong><br> Welfare depends on what animals <strong>feel</strong></p><p><strong>Focus on unpleasant feelings</strong><br> Particularly <strong>suffering and pain</strong> are key concerns in assessing welfare</p><p><strong>Key Researchers</strong><br> Dr. Ian Duncan – emphasizes feelings over just physical state<br> Dr. Marian Dawkins – emphasizes <strong>unpleasant subjective experiences</strong></p>

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OIE/WOAH Animal Welfare Definition

Definition
Refers to the state of the animal itself

Integrated components
Physical functioning – health, growth, reproduction
Mental/feelings – emotions, suffering, pleasure
Behaviour/naturalness – ability to express normal behaviour

Positive measurements
Includes positive animal-based indicators of welfare

Scientific emphasis
Stresses use of scientific evidence to assess welfare

<p><strong>Definition</strong><br> Refers to the <strong>state of the animal</strong> itself</p><p><strong>Integrated components</strong><br> <strong>Physical functioning</strong> – health, growth, reproduction<br> <strong>Mental/feelings</strong> – emotions, suffering, pleasure<br> <strong>Behaviour/naturalness</strong> – ability to express normal behaviour</p><p><strong>Positive measurements</strong><br> Includes <strong>positive animal-based indicators</strong> of welfare</p><p><strong>Scientific emphasis</strong><br> Stresses use of <strong>scientific evidence</strong> to assess welfare</p>

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Capacity for Affective/Positive Emotions in Animals

Anatomical & Physiological Basis
Neuroscience evidence shows:
Cognitive aspects of emotions (e.g., recognizing happy/sad faces) require neocortical processing
Experiential states of happiness, sadness, and other basic affective states depend on sub-neocortical limbic circuits

Shared with mammals
These limbic circuits are common across mammals, supporting the idea that animals can experience emotions

<p><strong>Anatomical & Physiological Basis</strong><br> <strong>Neuroscience evidence</strong> shows:<br> Cognitive aspects of emotions (e.g., recognizing happy/sad faces) require <strong>neocortical processing</strong><br> Experiential states of <strong>happiness, sadness, and other basic affective states</strong> depend on <strong>sub-neocortical limbic circuits</strong></p><p><strong>Shared with mammals</strong><br> These <strong>limbic circuits</strong> are <strong>common across mammals</strong>, supporting the idea that animals can <strong>experience emotions</strong></p>

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Animal Welfare In Legislation

European Union Milestones

1952 Establishment Of The European Union
No specific animal welfare agreements

1958 Treaty Of Rome
Established European Community
No agreements on animal welfare

1999 Treaty Of Amsterdam
Introduced Protocol on Protection and Welfare of Animals
Recognized animals as sentient beings that can feel, suffer, and experience well-being

2009 Treaty Of Lisbon
Article 13 emphasizes animals as sentient beings
Requires full consideration of welfare requirements

<p>European Union Milestones</p><p><strong>1952 Establishment Of The European Union</strong><br> No specific animal welfare agreements</p><p><strong>1958 Treaty Of Rome</strong><br> Established European Community<br> No agreements on <strong>animal welfare</strong></p><p><strong>1999 Treaty Of Amsterdam</strong><br> Introduced <strong>Protocol on Protection and Welfare of Animals</strong><br> Recognized animals as <strong>sentient beings</strong> that can <strong>feel</strong>, <strong>suffer</strong>, and experience <strong>well-being</strong></p><p><strong>2009 Treaty Of Lisbon</strong><br> <strong>Article 13</strong> emphasizes animals as <strong>sentient beings</strong><br> Requires full consideration of <strong>welfare requirements</strong></p>

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Positive Animal Welfare

Definition
Defined by Rault et al. 2025
Animals flourish through predominantly positive mental states
Includes development of competence and resilience
Goes beyond good physical health and prevention of suffering

Sources Of Positive Mental States
Rewarding experiences
Opportunities for choice and to actively pursue goals
Achieve desired outcomes based on species-specific and individual capabilities

Individual Differences
Influenced by genetic, developmental, and experiential factors
Examples: pre-natal, early life, and environmental experiences

Assessment
Measured using animal-based indicators
Evaluated over different timescales for a lifetime picture

<p><strong>Definition</strong><br> Defined by <strong>Rault et al. 2025</strong><br> Animals <strong>flourish</strong> through predominantly <strong>positive mental states</strong><br> Includes development of <strong>competence</strong> and <strong>resilience</strong><br> Goes beyond <strong>good physical health</strong> and <strong>prevention of suffering</strong></p><p><strong>Sources Of Positive Mental States</strong><br> Rewarding experiences<br> Opportunities for <strong>choice</strong> and to actively pursue <strong>goals</strong><br> Achieve <strong>desired outcomes</strong> based on <strong>species-specific</strong> and <strong>individual capabilities</strong></p><p><strong>Individual Differences</strong><br> Influenced by <strong>genetic</strong>, <strong>developmental</strong>, and <strong>experiential factors</strong><br> Examples: <strong>pre-natal</strong>, <strong>early life</strong>, and <strong>environmental experiences</strong></p><p><strong>Assessment</strong><br> Measured using <strong>animal-based indicators</strong><br> Evaluated over different <strong>timescales</strong> for a <strong>lifetime picture</strong></p>

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Positive Animal Welfare – Limitations

Flourishing
Concept not clearly defined scientifically

Positive Mental States
Subjective, cannot be directly measured

Sentience Dependence
Uncertain across species

Competence & Resilience
Mechanisms and indicators still unclear

Rewarding Experiences
Difficult to define and validate

Indicators
Species- and context-specific, limited validation

Overall Definition
Conceptual, not yet operational, needs future refinement

<p><strong>Flourishing</strong><br> Concept not clearly defined <strong>scientifically</strong></p><p><strong>Positive Mental States</strong><br> Subjective, cannot be directly <strong>measured</strong></p><p><strong>Sentience Dependence</strong><br> Uncertain across <strong>species</strong></p><p><strong>Competence & Resilience</strong><br> Mechanisms and <strong>indicators</strong> still unclear</p><p><strong>Rewarding Experiences</strong><br> Difficult to <strong>define</strong> and <strong>validate</strong></p><p><strong>Indicators</strong><br> Species- and <strong>context-specific</strong>, limited <strong>validation</strong></p><p><strong>Overall Definition</strong><br> Conceptual, not yet <strong>operational</strong>, needs future <strong>refinement</strong></p>

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Positive Animal Welfare – Benefits

Raising Animal Welfare Bars
Animal welfare is of huge social concern

Changing Human Behaviour
Promotes better treatment of animals

Filling Biological Knowledge Gaps
Improves understanding of animal needs

Economic Benefits
Enrichment-induced disease resistance

<p><strong>Raising Animal Welfare Bars</strong><br> Animal welfare is of huge <strong>social concern</strong></p><p><strong>Changing Human Behaviour</strong><br> Promotes better <strong>treatment</strong> of animals</p><p><strong>Filling Biological Knowledge Gaps</strong><br> Improves understanding of <strong>animal needs</strong></p><p><strong>Economic Benefits</strong><br> Enrichment-induced <strong>disease resistance</strong></p>

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Take Home Message – Animal Welfare

Origins of Animal Welfare Research
Began with identifying problems, negative internal states, and underlying physical functions
Solved problems by manipulating function

Shift to Positive States
Animals’ positive psychological / mental states became an accepted focus in research and legislation

Definition of Animal Welfare
Refers to the state of the animal itself – includes positive and negative experiences

Interaction of Elements
Biological functioning and affective states interact to determine overall welfare

<p><strong>Origins of Animal Welfare Research</strong><br> Began with identifying <strong>problems</strong>, negative internal <strong>states</strong>, and underlying <strong>physical functions</strong><br> Solved problems by manipulating <strong>function</strong></p><p><strong>Shift to Positive States</strong><br> Animals’ positive <strong>psychological</strong> / <strong>mental states</strong> became an accepted focus in research and <strong>legislation</strong></p><p><strong>Definition of Animal Welfare</strong><br> Refers to the <strong>state of the animal itself</strong> – includes <strong>positive</strong> and <strong>negative experiences</strong></p><p><strong>Interaction of Elements</strong><br> <strong>Biological functioning</strong> and <strong>affective states</strong> interact to determine overall welfare</p>

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The Welfare Shift

Five Freedoms
Focus on avoiding suffering and negative states

Quality of Life
Balance of positive and negative experiences, emphasizes a good life

Five Domains
Framework for assessing welfare, includes physical and mental/affective aspects

<p><strong>Five Freedoms</strong><br> Focus on avoiding <strong>suffering</strong> and negative <strong>states</strong></p><p><strong>Quality of Life</strong><br> Balance of <strong>positive</strong> and <strong>negative experiences</strong>, emphasizes a <strong>good life</strong></p><p><strong>Five Domains</strong><br> Framework for assessing <strong>welfare</strong>, includes physical and <strong>mental/affective</strong> aspects</p>

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The Five Domains Model

Purpose
Provides a systematic, structured, comprehensive way to assess animal welfare

Focus
Considers both negative and positive affective experiences

Structure
Domain 5: Subjective mental experience
Domains 1–4: Physical and behavioural conditions influencing mental states

Updates
Revised over 25 years, fully updated in 2020 to include human–animal interactions

Alignment
Supports the three core welfare concepts: biological functioning, affective state, natural/behavioural expression

<p><strong>Purpose</strong><br> Provides a <strong>systematic, structured, comprehensive</strong> way to assess <strong>animal welfare</strong></p><p><strong>Focus</strong><br> Considers both <strong>negative</strong> and <strong>positive affective experiences</strong></p><p><strong>Structure</strong><br> <strong>Domain 5</strong>: <strong>Subjective mental experience</strong><br> <strong>Domains 1–4</strong>: Physical and <strong>behavioural conditions</strong> influencing mental states</p><p><strong>Updates</strong><br> Revised over 25 years, fully updated in 2020 to include <strong>human–animal interactions</strong></p><p><strong>Alignment</strong><br> Supports the three core welfare concepts: <strong>biological functioning</strong>, <strong>affective state</strong>, <strong>natural/behavioural expression</strong></p>

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Overview Of The 2020 Five Domains

Domain 1 — Nutrition
Assesses water and food problems and opportunities
Negative affects: hunger, thirst, malaise of malnutrition
Positive affects: drinking pleasures, flavours, textures, satiety

Domain 2 — Physical Environment
Includes housing, climate, air quality, substrate, noise, light
Negative affects: discomfort, breathlessness, thermal stress
Positive affects: thermal, tactile, olfactory comfort

Domain 3 — Health
Covers injury, disease, functional impairment
Negative affects: pain, nausea, sickness, weakness
Positive affects: vitality, fitness, freedom from disease

Domain 4 — Behavioural Interactions
Interactions with environment, other animals, and humans (new in 2020)
Captures agency, choice, goal-directed behaviour
Negative affects: frustration, fear, loneliness
Positive affects: play, exploration, bonding, foraging, social contact

Domain 5 — Mental State
Integrates all affects from Domains 1–4
Full mental experience = balance of negative and positive experiences

<p><strong>Domain 1 — Nutrition</strong><br> Assesses <strong>water and food problems</strong> and <strong>opportunities</strong><br> Negative affects: <strong>hunger</strong>, <strong>thirst</strong>, <strong>malaise of malnutrition</strong><br> Positive affects: <strong>drinking pleasures</strong>, <strong>flavours</strong>, <strong>textures</strong>, <strong>satiety</strong></p><p><strong>Domain 2 — Physical Environment</strong><br> Includes <strong>housing</strong>, <strong>climate</strong>, <strong>air quality</strong>, <strong>substrate</strong>, <strong>noise</strong>, <strong>light</strong><br> Negative affects: <strong>discomfort</strong>, <strong>breathlessness</strong>, <strong>thermal stress</strong><br> Positive affects: <strong>thermal</strong>, <strong>tactile</strong>, <strong>olfactory comfort</strong></p><p><strong>Domain 3 — Health</strong><br> Covers <strong>injury</strong>, <strong>disease</strong>, <strong>functional impairment</strong><br> Negative affects: <strong>pain</strong>, <strong>nausea</strong>, <strong>sickness</strong>, <strong>weakness</strong><br> Positive affects: <strong>vitality</strong>, <strong>fitness</strong>, <strong>freedom from disease</strong></p><p><strong>Domain 4 — Behavioural Interactions</strong><br> Interactions with <strong>environment</strong>, <strong>other animals</strong>, and <strong>humans</strong> (new in 2020)<br> Captures <strong>agency</strong>, <strong>choice</strong>, <strong>goal-directed behaviour</strong><br> Negative affects: <strong>frustration</strong>, <strong>fear</strong>, <strong>loneliness</strong><br> Positive affects: <strong>play</strong>, <strong>exploration</strong>, <strong>bonding</strong>, <strong>foraging</strong>, <strong>social contact</strong></p><p><strong>Domain 5 — Mental State</strong><br> Integrates all affects from Domains 1–4<br> Full <strong>mental experience</strong> = balance of <strong>negative</strong> and <strong>positive experiences</strong></p><p class="placeholder"></p>

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The Five Domains Unify All Three Major Welfare Viewpoints

1. Biological Functioning
Represented in Domains 1, 2, 3

2. Affective State (Feelings)
Represented in Domain 5

3. Behaviour / Natural Living
Represented in Domain 4

<p><strong>1. Biological Functioning</strong><br> Represented in <strong>Domains 1, 2, 3</strong></p><p><strong>2. Affective State (Feelings)</strong><br> Represented in <strong>Domain 5</strong></p><p><strong>3. Behaviour / Natural Living</strong><br> Represented in <strong>Domain 4</strong></p>

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Five Domains Table

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Summary – Animal Welfare Frameworks

Five Freedoms
Historical foundation
Focus on avoiding negatives

2020 Five Domains
Modern scientific model
Integrates biology, feelings, and behaviour
Assessment of:
• Physical functioning – Domains 1–3
• Emotional experiences – Domain 5
• Natural/behavioural expression & agency – Domain 4
Includes human impacts (new 2020 addition)
Enables grading of welfare compromise and enhancement
Supports contemporary goals: from minimize suffering to enable good lives (e.g., Quality of Life, “A Life Worth Living”)