scarce resource

I recently saw, on social media, the most horrifying study, revealed earlier this year. The research paper claimed that, if a human adult is struggling, a dog or baby will run toward the human wanting to know how to help, wanting to intervene, but a cat will sit back and watch—only interrupting if the cat sees “what’s in it for them.” That is to say, cats are moved to action if they see an obvious personal benefit to them, the research claims. The study went on to ascribe this to cats having fewer neurons or neurological connections or whatever. Sounds to me like researchers entered the study with a neurological premise in mind—“what does narcissistic self-interest look like on a brain scan”—and used unwilling cats to find an answer. Which is inane, by the way. We always talk about brain structure like it’s a set, static thing you’re born with—as if literal experience, trauma and healing, did not constantly alter the physical structure of the brain itself. I reflexively understood…