The human animal bond: Affordance theory as a way to systematize HAI

On a micro level merely psychological theories have been used to explain the effects of the hu
man-animal bond and interventions with animals (e.g. Collis & McNicholas, 1988; Julius et al,
2013), but on a macro level there seems to be no sound paradigmatic framework. One aim of the
anthrozoology program at the Open University of the Netherlands is to explore theories for this
purpose. This paper will focus on a particular set from evolutionary psychology and discuss how
these can be used as guidance for research in anthrozoology.
When looking at the relation between species from an evolutionary perspective, co-evolutionary
theory is probably the most relevant because it forces us to look at two species as part of each
other’s niche (Franks, 2011; Griffiths, 2001). Authors in the field have looked into this topic and
usually limit their scope to the process of co-evolution (Schleidt & Shalter, 2003; Serpell, 1995).
We will review this research and subsequently focus on its psychological consequences. The rela
tion between dog and man will be used as an example.
Evolutionary attunement to a niche can be broken down into affordances (Barrett, 2011; Gibson
& Pick, 2000), which are fundamental to the interaction between organism and environment. An
affordance can best be explained as the functional relation between our bodily structure and the
environment. Most affordances depend on the way in which our bodily structures have evolved
in relation to reliable elements of our niche (e.g. the dogs we live with). Dogs are sensitive to ges
tures of our hands, eyes and faces (Hare et al., 2005; Hare & Tomasello, 2005), which are precisely
the bodily structures pivotal to the formation of human bonds. Could it be that dogs are, through
co-evolution, predisposed to pay attention to signals that enhance bonding with humans?
In conclusion we will deal with the question to what extent this argument can be applied to our
bond to other species. This is especially relevant for therapeutic applications because it will help
us to categorize what type of interactions are afforded by different animals and, therefore, for
which specific therapeutic goals specific animals could be deployed.