Showing papers in "Anthrozoos in 1992"
TL;DR: In this paper, a scale for assessing emotional attachment of individuals to their pets, the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS), was developed, having excellent psychometric properties.
Abstract: This paper reports on the development and psychometric evaluation of a scale for assessing emotional attachment of individuals to their pets. Previous attachment scales have suffered variously from low internal consistency and reliance on small or nonrepresentative samples for their development. Telephone interviews of a random, representative sample of 412 pet owners in Fayette County, Kentucky, were completed in September 1990; a 69.5 percent response rate was achieved. From a preliminary set of 42 questions, a final 23-question instrument, the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS), was developed, having excellent psychometric properties. The scale is suitable for use with dog and cat owners. Data on internal consistency, factor structure, and item response theory (IRT) modeling are presented, along with correlations between the LAPS and several domains of variables known to relate to pet attachment.
376 citations
TL;DR: This paper assessed the impact of a year-long, school-based humane education program on younger and older children's attitudes toward the treatment of animals, and found that the program enhanced the animal-related attitudes of children differentially, depending on grade level.
Abstract: We assessed the impact of a year-long, school-based humane education program on younger (first and second graders) and older (fourth and fifth graders) children's attitudes toward the treatment of animals. Generalization to human-directed empathy was also measured. Using a pretest-posttest design and ANCOVA, we found that the program enhanced the animal-related attitudes of children differentially, depending on grade level. For younger children, there was no significant difference between experimental (E) and control (C) group attitude means; however, qualitative analysis showed that greater enhancement of attitudes occurred for first grade E group children than for C group children at that grade level. No differences were present on the generalization measure of empathy. For older children, there was a significant difference between E and C group attitude means qualified by grade level—there was greater enhancement of humane attitudes for E group than for C group fourth graders but no difference ...
199 citations
TL;DR: Gender, age, pet ownership, and religious affiliation were all significantly related to attitude toward animals, leading to the conclusion that a person's attitude towards animals may represent a unitary characteristic.
Abstract: Four hundred and ninety-five people completed a questionnaire in which they rated 35 specific examples of uses of different species of animals on a 5-point scale of acceptabilityunacceptability. Ratings depended on both the particular example used (medical research, behavioral research, product-testing research, use for educational purposes, use for luxury garments, or animals as pests) and the species involved. Examples using dogs, cats, or monkeys were rated less acceptable than those using rats or mice, nonmammalian vertebrates, or invertebrates. Examples in which animals were used to make luxury garments were rated the most unacceptable and educational uses of animals and behavioral research were the most acceptable. Ratings of examples were very consistent within individuals, leading to the conclusion that a person's attitude toward animals may represent a unitary characteristic. Gender, age, pet ownership, and religious affiliation were all significantly related to attitude toward animals, a...
161 citations
TL;DR: For instance, this article found that photos of individuals pictured with a dog were rated higher than those of individuals without a dog, and that a dog's presence may even make a person appear more likable.
Abstract: Recent findings have led researchers to believe that our pets may do more for us than we think. A dog's presence may even make a person appear more likable. Two studies were conducted to test this hypothesis. In the first study, 34 subjects viewed photographs of people pictured alone, pictured with a dog, and pictured with flowers. The subjects were asked to rate the person in the photos with regard to four dimensions: approachability, happy looking, relaxed looking, and best photo. The central finding revealed that photos of individuals pictured with a dog were rated higher than photos of individuals pictured without a dog. In the second study 45 subjects were asked to view three types of slides. The three slides consisted of outdoor scenery, a person walking through the outdoor scene, and a person walking a dog through the outdoor scene. Subjects were asked to rate the slides against each other with regard to several aesthetic dimensions, which included easiest to gaze at and best photo. In addi...
79 citations
TL;DR: Female dogs were sterilized at a significantly higher rate (87.8%) than were male dogs (45%).
Abstract: A survey was conducted in four Massachusetts communities to determine levels of pet ownership and the sterilization status of those pets, to analyze the impact of sterilization on pet overpopulation, to identify major reasons owners do or do not sterilize their animals, and to assess the impact of cost on an owner's decision to sterilize, among other factors. The survey was conducted by telephone using randomly generated telephone numbers. Interviews were conducted with 343 households of which 42% owned pets and 58% owned no pets. The percentages of households owning dogs (22%) and cats (21%) were lower than those reported in national surveys, as were the numbers of dogs (1.17) and cats (1.66) per owning household. Information was collected on 209 animals of which 42% were dogs and 52% were cats. Of the animals in the survey, 18.6% were intact and 81.3% were sterilized. Female dogs were sterilized at a significantly higher rate (87.8%) than were male dogs (45%). There was no difference in the ster...
68 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a statistical black hole for the problem of overpopulation in the US: Shelters and Pet Overpopulation: A Statistical Black Hole, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 140-143.
Abstract: (1992). Shelters and Pet Overpopulation: A Statistical Black Hole. Anthrozoos: Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 140-143.
62 citations
TL;DR: Results showed that age, gender, sibling status and number, and parental attitudes toward pets were all significantly related to levels of childhood pet ownership.
Abstract: Two separate but complementary questionnaire surveys were undertaken to assess the relationship between various demographic and family variables and individual variation in levels of childhood pet ownership. The first survey investigated pet ownership levels in a cross-section of families with schoolaged children. In the second, a large sample of university students were invited to report retrospectively on the pets they and their families had owned during their childhood. Results from both surveys showed that age, gender, sibling status and number, and parental attitudes toward pets were all significantly related to levels of childhood pet ownership. The number of children in the family, and parents' attitudes toward pets, were also found to be significantly related to levels of family pet ownership.
47 citations
TL;DR: A recent review and critique of pet attitude assessments indicated that most scale development efforts used small nonrandom samples, did not report psychometric characteristics, and paid inadequate attention to concurrent validation of the resulting measures as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Recent interest in the human-companion animal bond (HCAB) has been reflected in increased efforts to develop self-report attitudinal scales about affectionate relationships with pet Animals. A recent review and critique of pet attitude assessments indicated that most scale development efforts used small nonrandom samples, did not report psychometric characteristics, and paid inadequate attention to concurrent validation of the resulting measures. This article reports on the continued refinement and validation of the Pet Relationship Scales (PRS) in a large random sample independent from the two samples used to develop the scales. The random sample showed distinct differences in responses as compared with the two previously used samples, highlighting the need to test animal attitudes in samples drawn from the general population, and to examine them in greater detail in relation to other personal and situational factors that might mediate the influence of attitudes on behavior directed toward animals.
46 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a total of 789 animal-related stories and photographs in 82 issues of four tabloid magazines were analyzed according to the theme of animals as objects of affection, saviors, threats, victims, things to be used, sex objects, imaginary and mythological beings, surrogate humans, and objects of wonder.
Abstract: This paper characterizes the portrayal of animals and human-animal relations in one genre of American popular culture—the “supermarket” tabloid press. A total of 789 animal-related stories and photographs in 82 issues of four tabloid magazines were analyzed according to theme. The items fell into nine categories in which animals were portrayed as objects of affection, saviors, threats, victims, things to be used, sex objects, imaginary and mythological beings, surrogate humans, and objects of wonder. It is argued that these themes represent archetypes reflecting the roles that animals have had in human cultural and psychological life since the historical origins of our species.
44 citations
TL;DR: This article argued that at the core of the Nazi treatment of humans and animals was a reconstitution of society's boundaries and margins, and that animal protection measures, whether sincere or not, may have been a legal veil to attack Jews and others considered undesirable.
Abstract: It is well known that the Nazis treated human beings with extreme cruelty but it less widely recognized that the Nazis also took some pains to develop and pass extensive animal protection laws. How could the Nazis have professed such concern for animals while treating humans so badly? It would be easy to dismiss Nazi proclamations on animals as mere hypocrisy but there may be other explanations for the contradiction. For example, anecdotal reports and psychological evaluations of many prominent Nazis suggest they felt affection for animals but dislike of humans. Second, animal protection measures, whether sincere or not, may have been a legal veil to attack Jews and others considered undesirable. Third, the Nazis blurred moral distinctions between animals and people and tended to treat members of even the Master Race as animals at times. This article argues that at the core of the Nazi treatment of humans and animals was a reconstitution of society's boundaries and margins. All human cultures seek...
40 citations
TL;DR: The majority of the behavioral components observed during interactions between pairs of dogs could be categorized into a small number of fixed action patterns in predictable sequences, suggesting that domestic dogs, despite selective breeding, have retained inherited social behavior patterns.
Abstract: The components of behavioral interactions between pairs of dogs were observed during exercise periods in public open spaces. Most of the interactions were nonaggressive and ended without interference from either of the owners. Even in the 13% of interactions that were ended by owners, there was little evidence to suggest that either dog's behavior had triggered the intervention. The dog that started the interaction was most likely to finish it, particularly when there was a size difference between the two dogs. The majority of the behavioral components observed during such interactions could be categorized into a small number of fixed action patterns in predictable sequences. This suggests that domestic dogs, despite selective breeding, have retained inherited social behavior patterns. After an initial approach phase, the majority of the interactions appeared to consist of olfactory inspections, particularly of the head and anal regions. Female dogs concentrated on the head area, and male dogs the...
TL;DR: In an evaluation of the "Animal All-Star Show" at the Brookfield Zoo's Children's Zoo, 54 adult visitors were interviewed on-site after attending the show, and 34 adults were interviewed by phone six weeks after the show in order to measure retention of educational messages.
Abstract: Animal demonstrations accompanied by narration constitute one way children's zoos are attempting to move toward programs that emphasize educational messages. A wider and increasingly sophisticated range of educational messages have been incorporated into demonstrations with the intention of increasing their appeal and educational value for adults as well as children. In an evaluation of the “Animal All-Star Show” at the Brookfield Zoo's Children's Zoo, 54 adult visitors were interviewed on-site after attending the show, and 34 adult visitors were interviewed by phone six weeks after the show in order to measure retention of educational messages. The results of both the on-site and delayed interviews indicated that the overall objective of the demonstrations—to highlight the animals' special abilities and show how people and animals work together—was being achieved. Remarkably high retention rates (as high as 83%) were attained with respect to a number of educational messages. The evaluation result...
TL;DR: All targets of aggression do not produce the same sex differences in mangabey facial threats, and infants and small juveniles did not threaten each other across species.
Abstract: Adult golden-bellied mangabeys (Cercocebus galeritus chrysogaster) housed in three structures directed more frequent aggressive facial displays toward human visitors of their same sex than toward humans of other sex. The human male visitors showed the same patterns as did the mangabeys, with men harassing males. Human females were the only ones that did not display this pattern. Infants and small juveniles did not threaten each other across species. All targets of aggression do not produce the same sex differences in mangabey facial threats.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a survey of companion animal demographics and unwanted animals in the United States, focusing on the following categories: dogs, cats, birds, and amphibians.
Abstract: (1992). Companion Animal Demographics and Unwanted Animals in the United States. Anthrozoos: Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 222-225.
TL;DR: In this paper, the author calls for the development of a true anthropology of animals that studies and elucidates, to the extent possible, the animal Other, and proposes an anthropological approach to the study of animals.
Abstract: Natural science tends to reduce animals to parts, ignoring such characteristics as “inwardness,” ideas, and culture. The social sciences, such as sociology and anthropology, generally confine themselves to human subjects. Even those who study human-animal interactions tend to view animals as passive objects that are acted upon or thought and felt about. Scholars in the humanities assume that sociality and culture do not exist outside the human realm. The author calls for the development of a true anthropology of animals that studies and elucidates, to the extent possible, the animal Other.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors assess human versus horse effects in the context of therapeutic riding and assess their effects on human-and horse interactions in the field of equine rehabilitation, using Anthrozoos: Vol. 5, No. 3, pp 138-139.
Abstract: (1992). Therapeutic Riding: Assessing Human Versus Horse Effects. Anthrozoos: Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 138-139.
TL;DR: In this article, the negative impact of photographers on wildlife might be reduced by helping tourists select appropriate equipment, such as cameras and cameras with long lenses, which are less disturbing to mountain goats than photographers with short lenses.
Abstract: Photography often disturbs wildlife, but mountain goats were less disturbed by photographers with long lenses than photographers with short lenses. The negative impact of photographers on wildlife might be reduced by helping tourists select appropriate equipment.
TL;DR: Spending more scheduled time actively playing with the cat proved to be a very important element of owner beholder well-being and was suggested there was about a 90% chance of success.
Abstract: Inappropriate elimination accounted for 33% of the feline behavioral problems treated over an 18-month period at the Companion Animal Practice, The University of Queensland, Australia. Problems include spraying (35%), urinating (19%), defecating (31%), or a combination of these (16%). There were 7 entire males in the sample but they featured most often in the elimination problems (15 cases), 7 castrated males (7 cases), 7 entire females (7 cases), and 5 spayed (ovariohysterectomized) females (10 cases). Inappropriate elimination in specific locations can be managed using behavioral modification (sometimes aversion techniques), a change in routine, or synthetic progestins. The owners of the entire males refused castration for them for spraying although it was suggested there was about a 90% chance of success. Random elimination can be more difficult to treat and requires careful management. Spending more scheduled time actively playing with the cat proved to be a very important element of owner beh...
TL;DR: The pig has a contradictory image: it is the symbol of luck, thrift, prosperity, or fertility, but it is also associated with negative characteristics such as impurity, lechery, falseness, and craving for power.
Abstract: The pig has a contradictory image. It is the symbol of luck, thrift, prosperity, or fertility. At the same time, it is identified with negative characteristics such as impurity (in a literal as well as a figurative sense), lechery, falseness, and craving for power. Although the pig is honored as a deity in many cultures, the epithet “swine” has been used as an insult in the Occident, at least since Pindar. Wieland described the pig as the “true antithesis of grace” (Mangold 1973). And Gottfried Benn made the bitter equation “the crown of creation, that swine, man” (1968). How, where, and when did these varying judgments come about in the course of history? What experiences and events, what special characteristics of the species, induced them? The first part of this article will trace the foundation of these references in the most important phases of the natural history of the domestic swine. The second part will summarize the relationships between the species Homo and Sus.