>>309190it's definitely a means to an end. cats like to snuggle up to you and you think "oh she luvs me" but in reality you're just a warm place that consistently generates food and stimulating scratches. animals are not capable of "love" in the same way, but the reactions they give to petting and feeding them is its own reward. they seem happy and that makes you happy in return. maybe its the same way with humans, you act affectionate towards someone because you know it makes them feel good (or at least you imagine that's the case), so making someone else feel good makes you feel good. its a very core circuit, you can't just shut it off or break it.
>>309189it's unlikely it's broken, just suppressed or under-activated. i got emotional because it was probably several years since i just played with a cute animal and her cute reaction caught me by surprise, just activated something inside me that i thought i lost. usually i'm hikkimaxxing and when i'm walking outside i'm just looking to get home as fast as possible. i sort of understand why lonely people have pets because the touch starvation is probably the worst part, novelty and gossip you can always get on the internet.