Researchers studying animal behavior at Newcastle University have discovered that stressed bumblebees are more likely to make pessimistic choices. This suggests that their reactions to failure resemble those of humans. So, how was the study conducted? During the experiment, scientists trained bumblebees to identify which color signaled something good and which indicated something bad. The insects learned that one color led to a spot with a sweet reward, while another led to a location with no treats.
After the bumblebees grasped these associations, two groups of subjects underwent a simulated attack, while a third (control) group experienced no external stress. The bumblebees that experienced the simulated attack were less likely to interpret the color as a cue for a sweet reward. They more frequently visited locations without sweets compared to the control bees that were not stressed.
Dr. Vivek Nityananda, a co-author of the study, noted, “Our research showed that bumblebees become more pessimistic after stress, as their behavior indicates they do not expect a reward.” According to him, stressed bumblebees anticipate that high rewards are less likely. Thus, these insects “exhibit traits similar to pessimistic humans,” as reported by the Independent.
Commenting on the results, Dr. Olga Protsenko, the study’s lead researcher, explained, “When faced with uncertainty, stressed bumblebees, much like a person who sees a glass as ‘half empty,’ are more likely to expect negative outcomes.” The findings of this study were published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.