Category: How Animals Help to Break Human Taboos

Another taboo faced in our societies and cultures are drug-use and addiction. Drugs and addiction are often seen as byproducts of a corrupt society, however, Dr. Natterson-Horowitz dives into the variety of cases involving animals and their use of drugs and addiction. According to her findings, addiction is a natural tendency and when viewed as such, we can break down the walls of stigma and truly help those who fall victim to it. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz discovered that dogs lick toads, wallabies trespass into poppy-fields, and dolphins fiend for a puffer-fish’s toxins. These, and many more, examples have come to show that addiction is not a uniquely human trait. Receptors for cannabinoids and opiates are found in a variety of animals, which introduces the idea that opiates and cannabinoids serve a role in survival and fitness, especially due to the release of dopamine. Many other mammals respond to intoxicants in similar ways to humans. By identifying the natural causes of drug-use in the animal kingdom, Dr. Natterson-Horriwitz suggests that we humans can become more open to the biological specifics of addiction.

If this peaked your interest check out: Intoxication: The Universal Drive for Mind-Altering Substances By Ronald K. Siegel

One of the most taboo topics within human nature is the discussion of human sexuality. Centuries of religious, cultural, and societal demands have controlled the sexual tendencies of humans, disregarding the natural aspects behind said sexuality. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz explores the sexuality of other members of the animal kingdom and recognizes the similarities between them and humans, showing that human sexuality is not as provocative as we make it seem. Through her research, Dr. Natterson-Horrowitz discovered that many animals take part in same-sex relationships, suffer from erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, develop ways to prevent sexual encounters, pick specific partners, and so much more. By recognizing sexuality in the rest of the natural world, people would be able to recognize the naturalness of human sexuality. Studying the sexuality of animals can help show society that the acts people are disowned, abused, or killed for around the world are completely natural and not based on “human error”. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz’s analysis of this aspect of health can help play an important role in human acceptance and understanding.

“Zoobiquity” explores many aspects of the intersection of human and animal health. However some chapters dive deeper than others, such as “Zoophoria” and “Roar-gasm”, and explore the nature of controversial topics deemed “touchy” to us humans: drugs and sex.