You bring up interesting and perplexing question.

My theory is the answer to that question would be on an individual basis. Some may desire to pet more (for this case we will refer to them as Type A). While others may prefer to be the one’s being pet (Type B).

A first step could potentially be a polling question for each subject. First defining what each Type A and B represents. And then asking them what type they think they would classify themselves as.

But the most evidentual would be a real world scenario.

Based on previous sciences (not sourced). It’s assumed that seretonin levels will increase when someone is happy and decrease whem someone feels something unpleasant.

I propose we do a study. We measure the seratonin. Levels of the subject prior to petting or being pet. And then on a random basis, choose for them to be pet or pet another subject. After petting is complete we can re-analyze seratonin levels.

However, this experiment will need to perform each test on subjects on multiple days. As serotonin levels will have been altered for the previous test which will effect the outcome for the opposite test if done to close to one another.

Additionally, their base serotonin levels may be affected from the anticipation of the second petting test. This could alter our data, but I currently dont have a solution so any suggestions on how to make this a true blind study is welcome.

I theorize that data will show a correlation (but not causation) of those who previously show signs of narcissistic tendencies will be a Type B. While people who are more prone to empathy will have a more dispersed result of Type A and B.