Psychology, Social Development, Social Motivations

A Survey of Pet- and Non-Pet-Owning Swedish Adolescents: Demographic Differences and Health Issues

Carol L. Glasser — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:45:00 -0800

This study examines the level of adolescents' attachment to companion animals and the effects of living with companion animals on self-rated health. Over 8,000 Swedish teens were surveyed about their health, activities and companion animals. Overall, those with dogs (male and female) and females with horses indicated the highest levels of attachment to their companion animals. Those without companion animals had higher levels of physical activity than those with companion animals. Those with companion animals who reported the highest levels of health, also attributed the most importance to their animal(s).

Bystander Apathy in Animal Abuse Cases: Exploring Barriers to Child and Adolescent Intervention

Carol L. Glasser — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

Relying on in depth interviews with adolescents who had witnessed violence against animals but not intervened when it was occurring, this study seeks to understand impediments to advocating and intervening for the animal. The authors find that these adolescents act much like bystanders to violence against humans--being troubled by what that they see but not intervening. However, they differ in that violence against animals is normalized in their peer group as "play" activity. Implications for humane education needs are discussed.

Coming Soon: Year Five of HRC's Animal Tracker

HRC Admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:45:00 -0800

We’re getting ready to launch year five of HRC’s Animal Tracker annual survey of the public opinions and behavior of adults in the U.S. This year’s survey, which will field in March, addresses opinions toward various social movements, who people trust to provide information about animal welfare, opinions about the adequacy of animal protection laws, attitudes toward the importance of animal welfare in various situations, and the frequency with which people discuss animal protection issues. We asked the exact same questions in 2008 and 2009 and will be able to analyze changes over time. When the results are available in April, we’ll also refresh the Animal Tracker graphing tool so that the results will be easy to access and interpret.

Owning the Problem: Media Portrayals of Overweight Dogs and the Shared Determinants of the Health of Human and Companion Animals

Carol L. Glasser — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

This study examined how overweight dogs have been portrayed in English-speaking media between 2000-2009. The authors find that, while the media may report on social issues leading to increased obesity, they tend to focus the solutions to the problem solely on what the dog's companion person should do to resolve the issue.

The Development and Factor Structure of a Questionnaire Measure of the Strength of Attachment to Pet Dogs

Carol L. Glasser — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

This study describes the development of survey measures to evaluate people's attachment to their dogs. The authors test the scales and find that they are a reliable measure of degree of closeness to a companion animal, caring for and protecting a companion, and as a base measure of emotional comfort and well-being generally.

Animal Researchers: How Do They Do It?

Carol L. Glasser — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:35:32 -0800

In a previous blog series, I explored how denial works to allow humans to become willing participants and bystanders in the suffering of animals. Much of the discussion centered on how employees and subordinates learn to acquiesce to requests from superiors and how the average person learns to ignore the violence inherent in everyday and normalized uses of animals (food, clothing, entertainment, etc.). What I did not thoroughly explore was how those with more economic and social privilege in their careers could engage in types of animal exploitation that are atypical on animals who are often beloved in our culture. This is precisely what animal experimenters are engaged in and a question I have, that leaves many animal advocates baffled, is “How do they do it?”

Labels and the Treatment of Animals: Archival and Experimental Cases

Carol L. Glasser — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

This study examines how attitudes toward the maltreatment of animals vary depending on the type of animal. The study is conducted using archival data of writings about animals in popular scientific venues, as well as an experiment in which respondents were asked to react to vignettes describing the maltreatment of different species of animals. The study finds that the species and label of an animal determines how people react to its mistreatment -- less tolerance for maltreatment was accorded for pet animals and certain types of maltreatment were acceptable only for certain species (e.g. "hooking" was okay for fish but not birds, cats, or dogs).

Choosing Our Words Wisely

Carol L. Glasser — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:45:00 -0800

Using honest, direct and accurate language seems simple enough, but when working in the field of animal protection it is anything but. Many of the typical ways of talking about animal issues in the English language are inherently biased against animal interests. Common words and phrases mask animal abuse, reinforce human exceptionalism and dominance, and normalize animal exploitation.

Vegan Sexuality: Challenging Heteronormative Masculinity through Meat-free Sex

Carol L. Glasser — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

This study examines how the sexuality of vegans is addressed and reacted to by a general audience. The authors examine online responses to the idea of "vegansexuals," vegans who wish to only date other vegans. The authors analyze the themes present in these responses and find that negative evaluations were attributed to vegans' sexuality.

12.3 Million Pets Remain Uninsured

Carol L. Glasser — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 08:45:00 -0800

This poll by a U.K. animal insurance company addresses the number of people with health insurance for their animal companions and what influences decisions to insure companion animals. The poll finds that over half (56%) of respondents do not have insurance for their companion animals.