Why do people....... More.....

The only one who really has a clue as to leopard geckos' mental capacity and motivations is Glenn Bartley. I quote him:

They are really aliens intent on taking over the earth, but needing help to establish breeding populations of sufficient numbers they have used their mind bending abilities to enslave a certain group of herp keepers.

This thread is taking a turn... it's not as fun to read as the 1st 1/2! Well, except for the alien part... thanks Laura for keeping it on the lighter side!

Originally Posted by leaftail

What are emotions but various chemicals released into the brain etc., triggered by either external stimuli or learned behaviours?

IMHO, human personality is a combination of genetics and learned behaviours. We're just animals who think we're better than the other animals.

Now i would not go that far, To me some mammals are capable of emotions and other things. I remember literally seeing a dog cry once seperated from a a human friend. The dogs face the next day had visable marks from tears running down its face. It was examined by a vet to make sure it did not have a watery eye problem and it did not have any problems at all.

Like those animals that save thier owners from fires and other accidents, most were not trained for it. I have seen dogs never known for violence, attack someone who tried to hurt its master. If that isnt a expression of an emotion, i would not know what to call it then.

I think animals have emotions too. Geckos are simpler creatures so their emotions are simpler. Like alice said, fear is an emotion, a primitive emotion, and no one can argue that animals feel fear. I think they feel happiness too, in a very simple form, call it contentment maybe, like when they have a nice full belly and are tucked into a warm safe hide.

I must disagree and say that fear is not an emotion but it is a primortal mechanism of self and species preservation....... Fear is an instinct but can be triggerd by a learned behavior...... Some people keep comparing dog and cats and other animals to reptiles..... Reptiles have a much more primative and basic brain with basic functions...... They are absolutly incapable of feeling things like happiness, sadness, love, and so on...... The Srtess they do feel is not a mental stress like we feel.... It is a stress on their physical being that cause them to have problems...... Anyway, I think this is a good topic of convo...... It is interesting to read what others think on the topic.....

Gregg beat me to it. Fear is a basic instinct not an emotion. If it was connected to emotion they might just drop their tail whenever a human they don't care for comes into view.

P.S. I am still waiting for Overton to jump in on this one....LOL

which brings us immediately back to the concept of having any sort of feeling for (or opinion of) a person. you started a good thread, Gregg. inspiring thought, and definitely evoking opinion and sentiment...have fun all - I'll be back for the definitive answer later. hate to miss any of this, but my snakes miss me (couldnt resist that)

Couldn't one argue that emotions are rooted in instinct? Where do you draw the line?
-Alice

Emotions are not rooted to instinct..... Emotions and instincts are 2 different mechanisms that occur in two different parts of the brain..... It just so happens that reptiles are missing the part of the brain that controls emotions....