Childhood Animal Cruelty Methods and Their Link to Adult Interpersonal Violence

Abstract

Recent research has begun to establish a relationship between childhood acts of animal cruelty and later violence against humans. However, few studies have focused on the influence of animal cruelty methods on later interpersonal violence. In a replication of a study by Hensley and Tallichet (2009) and based on a sample of 180 inmates at medium- and maximum-security prisons in a Southern state, the present study examines the relationship between several retrospectively identified animal cruelty methods (drowned, hit, shot, kicked, choked, burned, and sex) and interpersonal violence committed against humans. Four out of 5 inmates reported hitting animals. Over one third of the sample chose to shoot or kick animals, while 1 in 5 had sex with them. Less then one fifth of the sample drowned or choked animals, while less than one sixth of the inmates burned animals. Regression analyses revealed that the age at which offenders began committing animal cruelty and having sex with animals were predictive of adult interpersonal violence.

Associations between different motivations for animal cruelty, methods of animal cruelty and facets of impulsivity

“…Arluke, Levin, Luke, & Ascione, 1999;Ascione, 1999;Ascione, Thompson, & Black, 1997;Bucchieri, 2015;DeViney, Dickert, & Lockwood, 1983;Felthous, 1980;Felthous & Kellert, 1987a;Hellman & Blackman, 1966;Henderson, Hensley, & Tallichet, 2011;Hensley & Tallichet, 2008;Hensley & Tallichet, 2009;Hensley, Tallichet & Dutkiewicz, 2009;Hensley et al, 2012;Holoyda & Newman, 2016;Kellert & Felthous, 1985;Levitt, Hoffer, & Loper, 2016;Merz-Perez & Heide, 2003;MerzPerez, Heide, & Silverman, 2001;Miller & Knutson, 1997;Overton, Hensley & Tallichet, 2012;Tapia, 1971;Tallichet & Hensley, 2004;Walters, 2014). Whilst it is crucial to understand the relationship between childhood animal cruelty and later offending against humans, it is equally important to understand why people are cruel to animals to begin with.…”

Bestiality in Forensically Committed Sexual Offenders: A Case Series

“…Multiple studies have demonstrated that inmates who report a childhood history of bestiality are more likely to have been convicted of a personal crime such as rape, sexual assault, assault, and robbery and to have a greater number of personal crime convictions than subjects who denied a history of bestiality . When considered as a form of animal cruelty and compared to drowning, hitting, shooting, kicking, choking, or burning animals, bestiality was found to be the only form of cruelty that significantly predicted recurrent interpersonal violence among inmates . Research on juveniles suggests that those with a history of bestiality tend to report prior sexual offenses against humans and more offenses than sexual offenders of the same race and age without a history of bestiality .…”

Forensic Pathology of Companion Animal Abuse and Neglect

“…One driving force behind this change has been the affirmation of the link between animal abuse and various types of interpersonal violence, including child abuse, domestic violence, rape, robbery, and homicide. 31 Animal abuse at a young age appears to be predictive of later interpersonal violence, 19,37 and there is strong evidence that individuals are often violent toward animals and people concurrently. 5 Definitions of and criteria for animal abuse and neglect vary among jurisdictions, countries, and cultures.…”