Talking to your Shih Tzu isn’t madness; it’s a sign of social intelligence. Generally, everyone who has a pet talks and interacts with them daily, after all, they are our companions at home. Those we show love and care for, taking care of each other, and they become part of our lives. And as proven, we love our Shih Tzus as if they were our children.
For those who don’t have a Shih Tzu, they may find it silly or strange that we talk to ours, sometimes even in a different voice than usual, judging it to be useless in communication.
But according to a scientist, Nicholas Epley, who teaches at the University of Chicago, he disagrees with this.
For the professor, it’s entirely normal to engage in this type of communication, and indeed, investing in a conversation with the pet can indicate a higher level of social cognition between the little animals and their owners.
An expert on the phenomenon of anthropomorphism – that is, the tendency to attribute thoughts, feelings, or human characteristics to a non-human being, such as an animal or an inanimate object.
Author of the book Mindwise: How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want, he writes, “I think this view is somewhat mistaken and unfortunate. Recognizing the intelligence of another human being involves the same psychological processes as recognizing non-human intelligence, as in animals.
It is a reflection of the expansiveness and great cerebral capacity that we possess, and not a sign of stupidity.”