ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 November 1987
Page Count: 11

Psychosocial Aspects of Selecting Animal Species for Physical Abuse
Felthous, AR
Chief of forensic sciences and associate professor of psychiatry, The University of Texas Medical Branch, TX

Kellert, SR
Associate professor, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, CT

(Received 22 December 1986; accepted 30 March 1987)

Abstract

Identification of psychosocial factors in selecting animals for abuse is relevant to mankind's relationship to the world of animals and to the psychology of human aggression. A major study of animal abuse involving 152 male subjects resulted in the identification of 23 subjects who have histories of substantial animal abuse. In attempting to identify psychosocial factors that may affect recurrent abusers' choices of animals to mistreat, findings are presented under four thematic questions: (1) Are animals selected for abuse because they are perceived to be dangerous? (2) Is there a relationship between method of abuse and type of animal selected for cruelty? (3) Are some types of animals more likely than others to evoke predisposing attitudes and abusive behaviors? (4) What kind of relationships do abusers have with the animals they choose to mistreat?

Keywords:
psychiatry, animal abuse, human behavior

Paper ID: JFS11229J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11229J
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