The Integrative Model of Human-Animal Interactions (IMHAI), developed by Leconstant & Spitz (2022), presents a conceptual and transdisciplinary framework to study the emotional foundations of interspecies interactions. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and ethology, the model highlights how primary-process emotions, rooted in subcortical brain regions and shared by all mammals, underpin human-animal connections.
IMHAI emphasizes that an individual’s physiological state of safety shapes emotional expression, reflecting adaptive responses to changing environments. Core processes within the model include emotional transfer, embodied communication, and interactive emotional regulation. These processes explain how emotions are exchanged and regulated between humans and animals during social interactions, creating bonds that impact health and wellbeing.
By adopting a One Health–One Welfare perspective, IMHAI underscores that promoting positive interspecies interactions benefits both human and animal welfare. The framework also encourages hypothesis generation and applied strategies for enhancing affective communication in contexts such as veterinary care, therapy animals, and everyday pet ownership. With its grounding in affective neuroscience, IMHAI provides a shared scientific foundation for studying and improving human-animal relationships.
Source: Leconstant, C., & Spitz, E. (2022). Integrative Model of Human-Animal Interactions: A One Health–One Welfare Systemic Approach to Studying HAI. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9. Publication Date: July 29, 2022. Authors: Charlène Leconstant, E. Spitz. Citations: 18.
