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Honors Theses

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/239647

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Browsing Honors Theses by Subject "animal behavior"

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    A case study of the emergence and modern use of "alpha male"
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Grant-Hudd, Rosanna, author; Dewey, Tanya, advisor; Goldstein, Liba, committee member
    Alpha male is a term used in both animal societies and human popular culture today. Defined as the "dominant male", this term is misunderstood often, mostly in human society. This paper aims to trace the history of the alpha male concept and distinguish its origin in animal research on social hierarchies, explore the current impacts of this term on human society, and identify three key factors that led to this term being misused by popular culture in modern-day society. By exploring its history and current use, this paper suggests that uncareful language, misogyny in the scientific community, and the popularization of scientific terminology in nonscientific landscapes are the key contributors to the current misunderstanding of the alpha male. Identifying these major factors provides a basis for future actions, such as increasing diversity on research teams and peer reviewing the diction of scientific literature.
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    Self to self, self to others: a cognitive bridge between mirror self-recognition and empathy in non-human animals
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Swygert, Paige, author; Dewey, Tanya, advisor; Willis, Jennie, committee member
    Understanding animal consciousness remains one of the most compelling and controversial challenges in behavioral science. This thesis explores the intersection of self-recognition and empathy in non-human animals, focusing on the cognitive and emotional capacities that underpin these traits. Although research in animal behavior has advanced considerably, there remains a reluctance to attribute consciousness to animals due to methodological limitations and philosophical hesitations. By examining the development and application of the mirror self-recognition (MSR) test—from its origin in great apes to its use in dolphins, birds, ants, and beyond—this study investigates the nuances of what it means for an animal to recognize itself and whether that recognition indicates broader self-awareness. A central theme is the distinction between self-recognition (an understanding of the physical self) and self-awareness (an understanding of the self in relation to others), a distinction crucial in evaluating empathy. Drawing on theories such as Frans de Waal's "Russian-doll model," the thesis explores the evolutionary significance of empathy, its relationship to cognitive complexity and encephalization, and its manifestation through behaviors like contagious yawning, consolation, and targeted helping. Notably, many animals that pass the MSR test also exhibit empathetic behaviors, suggesting a potential cognitive link between recognizing the self and relating to the emotional states of others. This thesis argues that self-awareness may be a prerequisite for higher forms of empathy, though the presence of prosocial behavior without confirmed self-recognition complicates this relationship. The implications of these findings are far-reaching, impacting fields from animal welfare and conservation to ethics in agriculture and biomedical research, and ultimately challenge long-held assumptions, calling for a reevaluation of how humans treat and value non-human lives.