The cat who calls me "mom": an exploration of the physiological factors behind the spread of anthropomorphic cat videos—experimental evidence based on electroencephalography (EEG)
摘要
The widespread popularity of anthropomorphic cat videos on the internet has drawn numerous researchers to investigate the underlying causes. However, most studies have centered on the conscious level and neglected the mediating role of physiological responses. This study investigates the impact of cat videos with varying degrees of anthropomorphism on individual cognition through electroencephalography (EEG) experiments. The research revealed that, in comparison to first-person and non-anthropomorphic cat videos, third-person cat videos elicit greater brain activity, alleviate cognitive load, and improve attention control. The ‘sense of companionship’ and emotional engagement fostered by anthropomorphism, coupled with the resultant physiological relaxation, are supported by psychological motivations such as the SEEK model, which includes Elicited Agent Knowledge, Effectance Motivation and Sociality Motivation. People tend to favor anthropomorphic cat videos. On the one hand, anthropomorphic animal videos can foster empathy toward non-human species and increase attention to animal welfare. On the other hand, they might also result in the expansion of ‘anthropocentrism’, in which animals are forcibly distorted to cater to human preferences. Striking a balance between ‘anthropomorphism’ and ‘zoomorphic representation’ to prevent excessive anthropomorphism that neglects the needs of animals themselves is an issue that warrants further contemplation.