Kate Nicole Hoffman (University of Pennsylvania)
Classically, the suffering of non-human animals, although in certain circumstances recognized as unacceptable (or at least unsavory), has been viewed as different in kind from human suffering. Descartes famously argued that animals are incapable of experiencing pain, and merely react reflexively to bodily harm. Although this extreme view is not as prevalent as it once was, it is still difficult to find evidence to prove the contrary. It seems as though any case of animal "pain" can be explained away with some reference to bodily instinct, which need not include any kind of experience of suffering.
The purpose of my project is to challenge Descartes' claims by investigating animal consciousness from the perspective of mental health. In particular, I argue that animals can experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder — a kind of suffering which is not easily explained merely with reference to stimulus response. Using specific case studies, I examine and compare the behavior of animals who have been affected by a traumatic event with the symptoms of human PTSD detailed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel V. In the first study, a group of African elephants, all of whom were witness to the slaughter of their herds by poachers, killed over 100 rhinoceros — a violent act unheard of in elephants. Ecologists, puzzled by the non-normative behavior of the elephants, sought a psychological explanation. In the second study, a chimpanzee named Jeannie was released from the New York Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates (LEMSIP) after exhibiting "serious emotional and behavioral problems", including self injury, screaming, and what appeared to be anorexia. The symptoms of both the elephants and Jeannie have been documented by conversationalists and sanctuary workers. I have found that their symptoms match up with those displayed in human PTSD, and argue that, by the DSM V's standards, these animals should be diagnosed with the disorder. I conclude that PTSD is the simplest and best explanation for the behavior of these particular animals. Although my research is so far confined to elephants and chimpanzees, I suspect that similar results can be found in many other species.
Descartes' view of animals as machines is hardly the norm nowadays. However, the general consensus still prefers a clear distinction between human and animal suffering. One basis for such a distinction is the idea that, although animals can surely experience physical suffering, mental suffering is restricted to humans. It is this outlook which allows for the poor treatment of animals in factory farms, laboratories, and zoos. By arguing that at least some animals can experience PTSD, I hope to bridge the gap between human and animal suffering. Doing so will reveal certain ethical implications related to protecting not just the physical, but also mental lives of animals.
