Feline behavior has fascinated humanity for centuries: they seem to live according to their own rules, their behavior is sometimes difficult to decipher and their bond with humans is special. Although numerous studies have been carried out to better understand it, a team of British researchers has ventured into unexplored territory in this study published in December in the Journal of Research in Personality. Why not analyze their personality traits through the prism of psychopathy ?
Psychopathy is a more severe and complex form of antisocial personality disorder than the MSD Manual defines as follows: “ a persistent pattern of disregard for consequences and the rights of others “. It is characterized by a combination of emotional traits (lack of empathy, guilt, remorse) and behavioral traits (manipulation, impulsivity, tendency to parasitize others). SO, Does your cat look like Hannibal Lecter on four legs? ?
The three pillars of the feline personality
The triarchic model of psychopathy, originally designed for the study of human behavior, reveals a certain relevance in the analysis of feline temperament. This approach is based around three fundamental dimensions: boldness, characterized by a propensity for exploration and resilience in the face of stress; malevolence, which manifests itself in potentially aggressive or manipulative behavior; and disinhibition, reflecting a tendency to act impulsively and seek stimulation.
Rebecca Evans, psychologist at the University of Liverpool, gives her personal opinion on this study: “ Our cats and their personality differences naturally led us towards this path of research “. His own cat, Gumball, perfectly illustrates the dimension of disinhibition, showing a constant need for attention and very marked vocal expressiveness.
Deciphering feline behavior
The study is based on a considerable sample of 2,042 cat-owner relationshipsallowing robust statistical analysis of behavioral patterns. The resulting questionnaire, called CAT-Tri+, includes 46 carefully calibrated items, exploring a wide spectrum of behaviors: territorial exploration strategies, reactions to dangerous situations, social dynamics with peers, stimulation needs. environmental and adaptation to domestic rules.
Owners were asked to rate their animals on a graduated scale, ranging from “ does not match my cat ” has ” fits my cat perfectly “. This quantitative approach allows us to correctly capture nuances of feline behavior, while maintaining essential methodological rigor.
It’s like using a ruler to measure an object: we obtain more reliable results that if we simply estimated “ big ” Or ” little “. Using such a scale also reduces personal bias. Two different people using the same scale to rate the same cat will tend to give similar results.
The assessment also integrates factors of sociability towards humans and other animals, therefore offering a holistic view of cats’ personalities analyzeds.
According to the results of the study: the traits associated with psychopathy would have constituted an adaptive advantage for the ancestors of our domestic cats. As Evans explains, these characteristics facilitated the acquisition of essential resources: territories, food and reproductive opportunities.
The correlations identified by the research team defy common intuitions: disinhibition and a certain distance from other animals paradoxically predict a more harmonious relationship with the owner. Conversely, boldness and malevolence herald more complex relational dynamics and a chat that is potentially more difficult to understand.
This evolutionary perspective sheds new light on the sometimes confusing behaviors of our domestic companions. For example, a cat that seems indifferent to its peers could have inherited a behavior which allowed it to better survive in the wild.
Let’s take an example to illustrate; if your cat tends to hide its food, it’s no coincidence. This behavior may seem strange, even petty, to a human. However, if you know that your pet’s ancestors were solitary hunters who often faced competition for food, it becomes easier to understand why this behavior may have been selected for during evolution. . Hide your food allowed him to ensure his survival by preventing other animals from stealing its prey.
By considering these behaviors as the result of an evolutionary process, we are less inclined to judge them negatively. We therefore understand that these traits, although they may seem unpleasant to us, could have been advantageous in a different context. No, your cat, even if it sometimes seems to snub you or look at you with a bad eye, is not an imperfect or deviant being : he is simply a complex creature, shaped by thousands of years of evolution. He is also not a psychopath in the clinical sense of the term.. This study highlights correlations between certain traits and certain behaviors, but it in no way establishes causal links. So you can rest assured, your cat is not plotting behind your back, even if he spends his nights scribbling complex diagrams on your beautiful leather sofa.
- A study analyzed the personality of cats using the model of human psychopathy.
- Traits such as boldness, impulsivity and aggressiveness were studied via a questionnaire with owners.
- These behaviors have their roots in the evolution of this animal, but do not mean that it is psychopathic.
