Abstracts
Abstract
This paper argues for the development of new methodologies for studying animals and human-animal relationships that take qualitative and hermeneutic considerations into account. Drawing on the traditions of anthropology, depth psychology, and somatic studies, the paper advocates for the use of a trans-species ethnography that situates the researcher as a participant-observer in the field, in relationship with the subjects of study. This theoretical framework is illustrated by case study in the form of the author’s fieldwork on human-elephant communication at an elephant sanctuary in Cambodia.
Keywords:
- elephants,
- anthropology,
- ethnography,
- depth psychology,
- ecopsychology,
- liberation psychology,
- somatic,
- animal research,
- qualitative research,
- nonverbal communication
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