Chad recently shared an article that I’ve been thinking about for a few weeks. You can read the whole article here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2024.0382
The bit that caught my imagination was this:
‘Positive animal welfare is defined as the animal flourishing through the experience of predominantly positive mental states and the development of competence and resilience’.
In humans, flourishing is a composite concept that typically includes positive emotions, life satisfaction or happiness, engagement, meaning and purpose or a sense of achievement, fulfilling and supportive social relationships and resilience [20,21]. Flourishing links to mental and physical wellbeing [22,23]. Other authors refer to the achievement of one’s full potential [24]. Animals may experience attributes linked to flourishing such as affective happiness, defined as a long-term state reflective of how an animal feels most of the time [25], flow as a state of complete absorption in an intrinsically rewarding activity [26], and supportive and fulfilling social relationships [27]. Thus, flourishing is an aspirational goal for scientists and animal caretakers to work towards understanding and enabling in animals. Research is needed to identify (likely species-specific) features, scientific methods and valid indicators of flourishing in animals.
The part I bolded in the quote above is what I’ve been pondering. It lead me to put together today’s video that shows what may be chimpanzees in a flow state.
What do you think? What flow states did I miss? What was your favorite to watch?
Diana — What about when the quality testers (Jamie and Foxie; are there others?) test out something new that appears, is installed or built, etc., in one of the rooms? Don’t they get into the flow then? (Can I break this? How much force will this withstand? etc.) 🙂
Does Cy’s group ever patrol? I dont think I have ever seen it
Same
Loved the topic and seeing what you picked out. As to my favorite, hard to say, but perhaps Cy going thru his magazine pages was most interesting a d unusual. (Although you show us other chimps also looking at books and magazines.) I wonder if the flow for Cy isn’t opening the pages. It looks like he spends more time and has more glee turning the pages with his mouth, than actually looking at the pages.
Well, they all do peanut butter magazines for enrichment. But we know he looks at the pictures bc he reacts to them. Jamie does, as well, bc she has favorite images and magazines (I wonder how long the famous issue of HOME magazine lasted). While most chimps might casually glance over, these two definitely dont.
My first thought before seeing your video? Burrito is so flow. Like look-up-the-definition-in-the-dictionary-and-there’s-a-photo-of-Burrito-bouncing-on-his-giant-Kong flow. My second thought was Jamie on patrol is definitely flow.
My favorite to watch? Jody. Precious Jody building her intricate nest. While I enjoyed all your clips, Jody was my favorite because I will not see her build a new night nest again. Jody’s mothering skills and family devotion were pretty darn flow, too.
My favorite part of that video is when J.B. says: ” goodnight Jo “, and Jody aswers : “ghrrrrrr,ghrrrrr”…..
I just love that part.
:heartpulse:
same
You didn’t include, but the chimps tossing and turning in reams of paper while laughing and playing alone or with others looks like pure delight and flowing. It must be like a free feeling similiar to being under water or in a container full of balls kids enjoyed rolling around in at a playland.
Thank you, Diana, for sharing Chad’s suggested reading. I really couldn’t pick a favorite. This video reinforced for me the positive flow of choice for chimps in managed care. Jody, bless her precious soul in her nest making flow. The puzzles could definitely be mental flow. Jamie makes a colorful nest while the words flow as she pens a note for staff. Cy in his intellectual flow, naturally. I could flow into a food zone with a wonderful pasta boat followed by a fruit bowl.
When I read the description, Diana, I immediately thought “raisin boards!” I think you got them all.
Does Annie Bird get lost in thought while doing her bird noises?
On a side note, I’ve always marveled at the sight not only of Jamie holding a pen as we would….but *licking* the pen before she writes, the way people in the old days did with their pencils…always blows me away. I think I’ve seen her lick a thumb before turning a magazine page, as well.
For me, being in ‘the flow’ means swimming WITH the current ( of life ) and NOT fighting it and going against it…..Taking things as they come, and rolling with it.
I think that all chimpanzees ( except maybe Willy B. ) do that naturally.
I think here the “flow” experience refers to a psychological theory proposed by (a fellow-Hungarian :wink:) psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi. The concept is closer to mindfulness, although somehow different from it because it’s activity-based and comes with the sense of “losing self and awareness” – a kind of state of mind when you’re so absorbed in a joyful activity that the world and time seem to cease to exist.
yes, that’s how I understood it
There is NOTHING better than seeing the chimps in their state of flow. I love how different things absorb them. Seeing Annie playing with her BFF, Missy, or seeing Missy running as fast as she can on the hill… There is such beauty to see them completely focused on their current moment. Even if that flow is (in the case of Miss HB) working on an unintended hose puzzle.
I also was delighted to receive my Valentine from Burrito today! He just has the most handsome and lovable face!
Flow…what an interesting subject. I had two favorites, Jody and her wonderful nest making and Jamie with her pen. I wish I knew what was going through Jamie’s mind while composing her note. Thank you Diana, I think I will try to get in the ‘flow’ with my pile of clothes that need ironing now.