>>One would have to be an animal to know for sure (or at least be inside their heads).<<
If one humanizes animals, one can conclude that they have emotions and the ability to chose a sexual partner.
I’m above the animals.
And the reference is back in my Psych book from the seventies.
When I find it, I’ll put it up.
Much too general a statement to bear significance (some animals mate for life--swans, for example). And animals most certain choose sexual partners...just think of all the odd mating rituals males of many species go through to win a sexual partner.
Whether animals have "emotions" (depending on how the term "emotion" is defined) is completely independent of how human may or may not think of animals.
And as to emotions, your 1970's psych book has been profoundly outdated by more recent work that relates emotional sensation and thought to brain chemistry and electrical activity which is measurable by MRI and PET scans.
And BTW I know some humans (many actually) who are definitely NOT above animals. Funny thing that...they are all Liberals.