Animal Welfare and Positive Psychology: Measuring Good Lives

Overview of positive psychology approaches to animal welfare, measuring good lives not just absence of suffering.

Key Facts

Positive welfare science focuses on presence of good states rather than absence of bad
Pleasure, play, curiosity, and positive social interaction are measurable positive welfare indicators
Five Domains model explicitly includes positive affect as a welfare component
Measuring positive welfare enables more ambitious welfare goals than harm reduction alone
Species-specific positive welfare indicators are being developed and validated across farm and companion species

Welfare Considerations

Positive psychology approaches to animal welfare represent a conceptual and practical advance beyond the traditional focus on preventing suffering. Measuring positive welfare states including pleasure, play, curiosity, and social affiliation provides a richer welfare picture and enables more ambitious welfare goals. The Five Domains model's inclusion of positive affect reflects this shift. Validating positive welfare indicators across species is an active research priority with implications for welfare assessment and certification.

What You Can Do

Support positive welfare science research and organisations advancing this framework
Follow the Cambridge Welfare Assessment Protocol for positive welfare indicator development
Advocate for positive welfare indicators in farm and companion animal welfare standards