“Social referencing” is a concept that is talked about frequently in the world of human pediatrics and parenting. With babies, social referencing refers to when infants and toddlers study their parents’ body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice to develop their own similar reaction to things or events that are new to them.
Well, pet parents should take note of this interesting phenomenon, because recent studies have shown that our furry family members use this emotional information in very similar ways.
In a recent article found on NPR.org, Barbara King, a Chancellor Professor of Anthropology at the College of William and Mary, gives us her thoughts and an overview of the study’s findings in her article titled Mind Your Moods, Cat Owners.
Click HERE to read the full article.
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