Understanding Relations between People and their Pets

Abstract

As evidenced by the popularity of animal behavior shows and books, online viral pet videos, and the presence of dogs or cats in two-thirds of American homes, pets clearly play an important role in many Americans' lives. At the same time, however, millions of pets are abandoned, abused, and euthanized every year. What should we make of these seemingly conflicting realities? How do Americans really feel about and treat their pets? And what explains the differences? In recent years social scientists have begun to investigate the various and changing interactions between humans and animals. In particular, a growing body of research examines humans' relationships with pets, most often dogs and cats. This paper reviews recent research in this field. After discussing what differentiates pets from other animals, the paper begins with a review of research investigating the meanings and roles of pets in people's lives and the nature and benefits of human-pet attachments. Secondly, it reviews research on the factors that help explain why some people have a higher regard for pets than others. The paper concludes with a discussion of some of the limitations of existing research and some suggestions on how to expand future investigations.

Marketing para organizações sem fins lucrativos da causa animal: análise da predispo-sição à doação de dinheiro e tempo

“…No geral, os resultados convergem com a literatura que aponta essas relações (e.g. BLOUIN, 2012;MARTIN;RANDAL, 2008;ZAHN-WAXLER;HOLLENBECK;RADKE-YARROW, 1985;MAAS, 2009).…”

“…Também está bem estabelecido que o fenômeno de antropomorfização, isto é, atribuição de características, motivações e emoções tipicamente humanas a agentes não humanos, é um fator indicativo da percepção de semelhança entre pessoas e animais (BLOUIN, 2012;EPLEY;WAYTZ;CACIOPPO, 2007;HOLBROOK, 2008), e há indicações na literatura de que a percepção de semelhança entre doador e beneficiário aumentam as chances de doação (BLOU-IN, 2012;BRANCO, 1983;HOLBROOK, 2008). Nesse sentido, pode-se enunciar a sexta hipótese da pesquisa:…”

“Why Would You Want a Baby When You Could Have a Dog?” Voluntarily Childless Women’s “Peternal” Feelings, Longing and Ambivalence

“…People's attitudes towards pets and how and if they bond with companion animals differ greatly, for example due to childhood experiences (Blouin 2012). Studies also show that women generally have more empathetic or positive attitudes toward animals than men, and count pets as family to a higher degree than men (Herzog 2007;Owens and Grauerholz 2018).…”

“…Pets offer their owners an opportunity to receive unconditional maternal love again. (Margolies 1999, p. 298) Although pets are similar to children in this way, animals' needs are simpler than children's, making it easier to be a "pet parent" than a parent (Blouin 2012). There are also species-related differences.…”

“…People's relationships with companion animals have usually been portrayed in a positive light, with research revealing therapeutic, psychological, physiological and psychosocial benefits (Barker et al 2003;Blouin 2012;Sable 2013;Sussman 1985). Human and non-human bonds have, however, also sometimes been pathologized.…”