Animal Abuse and Developmental Psychopathology: Recent Research, Programmatic, and Therapeutic Issues and Challenges for the Future

Ascione, Frank R.; Kaufmann, Michael E.; Brooks, Susan

doi:10.1016/b978-012369484-3/50017-7

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Furthermore, cultural factors may also impact individual perceptions of what is considered cruel and non-cruel practices involving animals (Ascione, Kaufmann, & Brooks, 2000).…”

Section: Animal Cruelty As a Predictor Of Violencementioning

confidence: 99%

Not the Sum of Its Parts: A Critical Review of the MacDonald Triad

Parfitt

Alleyne

2018

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The MacDonald triad posits that animal cruelty, fire setting, and bed wetting in childhood is indicative of later aggressive and violent behavior in adults. Researchers refer to this phenomenon as a precursor to later antisocial behaviors including serial and sexual murder; while practitioners cite the triad in clinical formulations and risk assessments. However, there is yet to be a critical review and consolidation of the literature that establishes whether there is empirical support. This article explores the validity of the triad. We conducted a narrative review of the relevant studies examining the MacDonald triad and its individual constituents. There is evidence that any one of the triad behaviors could predict future violent offending, but it is very rare to find all three behaviors together as predictors. Thus, the empirical research on the MacDonald triad does not fully substantiate its premise. Rather, it would appear that the triad, or its individual constituents, is better used as an indicator of dysfunctional home environments, or poor coping skills in children. Future research is needed with robust and rigorous methodologies (e.g., adequate control groups, longitudinal designs) to fully establish the MacDonald triad's validity. Finally, further consideration is needed as to whether the triad behaviors are more indicative of other problematic outcomes (e.g., maladaptive coping to life stressors).

show abstract

“…Furthermore, cultural factors may also impact individual perceptions of what is considered cruel and non-cruel practices involving animals (Ascione, Kaufmann, & Brooks, 2000).…”

Section: Animal Cruelty As a Predictor Of Violencementioning

confidence: 99%

Not the Sum of Its Parts: A Critical Review of the MacDonald Triad

Parfitt

Alleyne

2018

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…25 Unfortunately, the originator of this definition also uses it as a definition of animal abuse thus contributing to the confusion. 7 Another example of this lack of clarity in definitions is the fact that some States in Australia include unintentional abuse as an offence under their 'anti-cruelty' laws.…”

Section: Human Abusementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further research is needed to explore whether the promotion of empathy to animals can enhance empathy to humans and thus reduce interpersonal violence. 7,32 The role of mandatory reporting of animal abuse in general, and to veterinarians in particular, needs to be explored further. In two states in the USA (Minnesota and West Virginia) and Quebec in Canada veterinarians are mandated to report animal abuse.…”

Section: Concluding Comments and Suggestions For Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…6 Those with a high incidence of childhood abuse of animals have an increased probability of abusive behaviour toward both animals and people in adulthood. 1,7 One study found a 60% pet abuse rate in a sample of families with substantiated child maltreatment. 8 This supports the case reports of battered women who report animal abuse by their partners 9 and surveys of domestic violence shelters that show a link between domestic violence and animal abuse.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Knowledge and attitudes of Australian veterinarians to animal abuse and human interpersonal violence

Green

Gullone

2005

Aust Veterinary J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A survey of Australian veterinarians was undertaken to assess their amount of knowledge about, and their attitudes towards animal abuse, human violence and the link between the two. Results from the 185 respondents to a questionnaire that was either mailed out or hand delivered revealed a wide variety of definitions and attitudes towards abuse, with the majority of veterinarians recognising the link between human and animal abuse. The overwhelming majority of veterinarians believed that they should intervene in some way when confronted with either animal or human abuse, although most felt ill-equipped to deal with suspected human abuse. Almost 20% of cases of animal abuse had associated suspected or known human abuse. It is suggested that veterinarians need more resources made available to them to be able to deal more effectively with these situations.

show abstract

“…People have different motives for abusing animals, for example, curiosity, excitement, teasing, or desire to hurt (Arluke, 2002;Ascione, McCabe, Philips, & Tedeschi, 2010;Baldry, 2004;Dadds, Turner, & McAloon, 2002). Animal abuse may also be used to intimidate others, to control, to frighten, to isolate, to manipulate, to punish, to shock, to take revenge, or to emphasise prejudices; there may also be a sadistic, aggressive motive (Ascione, 2001;Dadds et al, 2002;Garnier & Enders-Slegers, 2012;Gullone, Johnson, & Volant, 2002;Ramsey, Randour, Blaney, & Gupta, 2010).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Animal abuse: Offender and offence characteristics. A descriptive study

Wijk¹,

Hardeman²,

Endenburg

2018

Journal Invest Psychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This descriptive study was done to gain insight into the characteristics of animal abusers and animal abuse. On the basis of registrations by police, animal protection services, and the national reporting centre for animal welfare, 90 cases of animal abuse involving 97 offenders were analysed. Information about the offence and the offenders could be retrieved; the group of offenders was heterogeneous as to background and characteristics. Many were in debt, and 25% had 1 or more psychological disorders (e.g., antisocial personality disorders and autism spectrum disorders). Animal abuse often occurred because of frustration, and dogs were the main victims. Most cases of abuse took place in the home of the abuser. By taking the offence of animal abuse as starting point for studying the offenders' characteristics, we gained insight into a broad spectrum of characteristics and backgrounds than would have been found if we had started from a domestic violence perspective or the graduation hypothesis. A larger study is needed to verify findings.

show abstract

Animal Abuse and Developmental Psychopathology: Recent Research, Programmatic, and Therapeutic Issues and Challenges for the Future

Cited by 5 publications

References 14 publications

Not the Sum of Its Parts: A Critical Review of the MacDonald Triad

Not the Sum of Its Parts: A Critical Review of the MacDonald Triad

Knowledge and attitudes of Australian veterinarians to animal abuse and human interpersonal violence

Animal abuse: Offender and offence characteristics. A descriptive study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About