Report animal abuse.
Stop domestic abuse!
A photo of a bloodied and battered dog is juxtaposed with a photo of a girl staring. Haunting text under the girl's photo reads: She's next.
The ad was one of several unveiled Thursday as part of a massive public service campaign in Milwaukee to highlight the link between animal abuse and domestic abuse and to encourage people to call 911 to report both.
Billboards, radio and television ads will be spotted and heard throughout metro Milwaukee, and campaign organizers hope it spreads further through social media.
The genesis of the campaign is in research from the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, which found that 76% of animal abusers also abuse a family member. If more people call 911 to report suspected animal abuse, police officers will have more opportunities to possibly uncover domestic violence, campaign organizers say.
The ads are supposed to make people feel uncomfortable, said Gary Mueller, founder of Serve Marketing, which created the ads.
The campaign is a collaboration among the Milwaukee County district attorney's office, Milwaukee police, the Wisconsin Humane Society, Sojourner Family Peace Center, Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission and Serve Marketing, which is an all-volunteer nonprofit advertising agency.
Source: Journal Sentinel
The ad was one of several unveiled Thursday as part of a massive public service campaign in Milwaukee to highlight the link between animal abuse and domestic abuse and to encourage people to call 911 to report both.
Billboards, radio and television ads will be spotted and heard throughout metro Milwaukee, and campaign organizers hope it spreads further through social media.
The genesis of the campaign is in research from the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, which found that 76% of animal abusers also abuse a family member. If more people call 911 to report suspected animal abuse, police officers will have more opportunities to possibly uncover domestic violence, campaign organizers say.
The ads are supposed to make people feel uncomfortable, said Gary Mueller, founder of Serve Marketing, which created the ads.
The campaign is a collaboration among the Milwaukee County district attorney's office, Milwaukee police, the Wisconsin Humane Society, Sojourner Family Peace Center, Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission and Serve Marketing, which is an all-volunteer nonprofit advertising agency.
Source: Journal Sentinel
Making the Link
In this world, in which we all live together, nothing occurs in isolation. Changes impact throughout society and resonate globally, in sometimes hitherto unexpected places.
We humans categorize. Nature does not make this distinction. Everything is interconnected.
Those who abuse animals, not only introduce inter-personal violence issues and change their own psychological development, but also inhibit development of their society. Significant research into the LINK between such connections has identified that those societies in which animal abuse is ignored, then the children suffer, and if the children suffer, then society suffers.
Protect one... the other is protected... protect the other... and society is protected!
The following is an interesting film by Erik Friedl that examines the cycle of violence, the link between animal abuse and human cruelty, why some people become abusers and what the viewer can do about it,
The jury is no longer out on the question about animal abuse being connected to abuse against persons. A vast body of research now exists. These findings have supported the introduction of ‘LINK‘ groups where professionals address incidents of serious animal abuse as being deemed indicative of ‘at risk‘ individuals and families and interventions are introduced. Those who are cruel to animals are more likely to engage in a range of abusive behaviours including adult violence, elder abuse, child abuse etc... Numerous examples are identified where murderers exhibited a history of severe animal abuse.
It would appear essential then for a society to identify causes and seek to intervene in the abuse patterns which are created and practiced.
Almost all previous research has been conducted in regions where animal abuse is the exception, involves attachment and familiarity with abused animal and/or perpetrator, animal welfare laws exist and are enforced and animal control programs have been successfully introduced - Ascione, (1998); Flynn, (2000); DeViney, Dickert & Lockwood (1983).
But in a number of countries in Eastern Europe these criteria are not satisfied. In some EU-member countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, and the other eastern European countries, such as Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Macedonia or Greece and a few others, lack of any humane animal control policy has resulted in many hundreds of thousands of stray animals living on the streets. Animal protection laws exist but are rarely enforced.
What are the implications of endemic abuse being experienced regularly on the streets of these countries? What impact on psychological health? What are the societal ramifications introduced by the numerical preponderance of homeless animals providing availability of thousands of potential abuse victims?
The 'Making The Link' study was initiated by Teesside University (UK) to explore the connection between exposure to endemic abuse in social environments where no previous research had been conducted. 'Making The Link' will seek to evidence the impact which abuse has on the children of these lands... on the people... on the societies. And it will also demonstrate how easily positive change can be effected.
Although multi-dimensional, the study has a central objective of exemplifying connections between animal abuse and a child's psychological health and behavior with its resultant impact on societies. The efficacy of creating positive change by introducing interventions will be evaluated to explore their ability to enhance the quality of both a child's life and the attendant positive effects on society.
The ‘Making the Link‘ program has been credited by leading US academics involved in this field as ‘Amazing!‘ and as ‘The biggest LINK study ever attempted‘. Support comes from, among others, National Link Coalition and Institute for Human-Animal Connection who are the world leaders in this domain.
Most assuredly, the project is unique. In addition to promoting positive attitudes towards animals and in humanely reducing numbers, thereby providing a safer life and reducing the number of potential ‘victims‘, it will create and exemplify that positive societal change can be achieved, reduce anti-social practices, enhance children's psychological health and enforce redundant laws. But perhaps most importantly in a region which embraces around 20% of the European continent with similar issues, a pioneering model would be created to demonstrate to all municipalities and authorities that an effective solution is available to enhance the quality of life within their remit of care - for both people and animals.
A major collaboration of world-leading international organisations and academics have created the 'Making The Link' project to bring change... in the belief that a new tomorrow CAN be created for the children and animals of these lands.
Because.... this is their birthright! And ours to give.
Europe watches as a nation's psychological health
erodes on a hitherto unimaginable scale
If the LINK-concept is used to identify 'at risk' individuals and families based on incidents of animal abuse, what ramifications if, instead of identifying 'at risk' individuals, we are identifying an 'at risk' nation?
What are the implications then for a society uniquely encouraging aggression and abuse against multiple homeless, readily available animal victims?
This phenomenon has never previously been explored.
It is being discussed in the next article written by Prof. Eleonora Gullone-Parhar & Malcolm Plant, published in 'The Invisible Rape of Europe' and it is suggested that the cause and effects identified in this article are essential reading for every citizen of Europe and compulsory for any politician who has serious interest in the well-being and security of his represented society. The implications presented in this article, may potentially impact on every home, in every nation in the European Union.
What are the implications then for a society uniquely encouraging aggression and abuse against multiple homeless, readily available animal victims?
This phenomenon has never previously been explored.
It is being discussed in the next article written by Prof. Eleonora Gullone-Parhar & Malcolm Plant, published in 'The Invisible Rape of Europe' and it is suggested that the cause and effects identified in this article are essential reading for every citizen of Europe and compulsory for any politician who has serious interest in the well-being and security of his represented society. The implications presented in this article, may potentially impact on every home, in every nation in the European Union.
Nothing happens in isolation
by Prof. Eleonora Gullone-Parhar & Malcolm Plant - Central to the concept of ‘society’ is its inter-connectedness. All elements and facets are interwoven and impact upon each other. Within a society, nothing is exclusive. Increasingly, homogeneity is deemed desirable and inter-connectedness having international impact. It is within this conceptualisation that the 'Making the Link' Study Project was initiated.
‘Making the Link' Study Project was created in collaboration with University of Teesside, UK, and University of Denver, USA, to evidence how positive change could be brought to a society by addressing the results of the unique phenomenon of the extensive numbers of homeless animals and their impact on people and society. This is a phenomenon which exists in various regions of Europe but is endemic in Romania and which uniquely has a government legitimized stray animal ‘eradication’ policy. No study has previously been conducted in such environments, and consequently impact on individual and societal health has not previously been explored.
This blatant disregard for life encourages a harsh and callous attitude toward animals. In many instances the suffering of the animals is disregarded, resulting in obscene cruelty which is often witnessed by children. There is substantial empirical evidence that animal cruelty co-occurs with other antisocial or criminal behaviors, particularly aggressive behaviors. Those who are cruel to animals have been demonstrated to be more likely to engage in domestic violence, murder and bullying [1]. Of particular importance, the witnessing of animal abuse by children has even been implicated as a risk factor for the development of aggressive behaviors towards both humans and animals. Numerous examples are identified where people who have been convicted of inter-human aggression and violence have also been found to engage in animal cruelty. At the extreme end, murderers (e.g., serial killers) have over and over again been demonstrated to have exhibited a history of severe animal abuse. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
Indeed the LINK is currently used extensively by organizations in the USA (e.g., FBI) and increasingly in Australia, to identify animal abuse as being potentially predictive of inter-human abuse. The empirical evidence for the link is so strong that, in her recent book, [8] argues that by enacting adequate animal cruelty laws that properly indicate the seriousness of the animal cruelty crime committed, future violence toward both human and animal victims can be prevented. In the United States, at least 27 states now allow courts to bar animal cruelty perpetrators from owning or coming into contact with companion animals if they have been convicted of a crime. Also, more than 30 US states now have laws that shift the financial burden for the caring of abused or neglected animals to the defendants. Thirty US states also currently authorize the reporting of suspected animal cruelty by veterinarians. Further, reflecting acknowledgement of the link between animal cruelty and human violence, and heeding the call for cross-reporting, Eight U.S. states now have laws that authorize child or espousal abuse investigators and animal control officers to inform each other when they suspect cruelty.
In an Australian study, 61.5% of convicted animal abuse offenders had also committed an assault, 17% had committed sexual abuse, and 8% had arson convictions. Animal abuse was a better predictor of sexual assault than were previous convictions for homicide, arson, or firearms offences. Animal cruelty offenders committed an average of four different types of criminal offences. All sexual homicide offenders reported having been cruel to animals. Sexual assault, domestic violence, and firearms offences featured prominently in cruelty offenders’ criminal histories (Clarke, 2002).
Given the strong links between the witnessing of and engagement in animal abuse and other criminal and aggressive behaviors, it follows that if we cultivate a culture of compassion toward our non-human citizens, current and future generations will benefit through reduced antisocial and violent behavior toward all sentient beings.
Psychometric instruments including those used extensively by clinicians in the USA were presented to 169 children aged between 14-16 years in the City of Bistrita, Romania. A similar presentation was made to a control group of 111 children in Berlin, Germany. Given that exposure to abuse can produce a progressive desensitization process with attendant reduction in empathy [9] - four psychometric measures were introduced. Two seeking to evaluate empathy factors - Basic Empathy Scale (20 items); [10] and Empathy Assessment Index (23 items); [11] Achenbach Youth Self Report (114 items); [12] to explore a range of psychological factors and a modified version of CTSARE (14 items) [13] providing a self-response questionnaire. The YSR was modified to include two additional questions about exposure to abuse and perpetration of abuse.
It was found that in Bistrita, 86,3% of the children had witnessed animal abuse in public. 65% claimed to have been emotionally affected by the experience. Such abuse has been identified as poisoning, hanging and mutilation of homeless animals.
This provides a direct contrast to western societies where almost 50% of dog owners considered their pets to be ‘members of the family’ [21]. A survey of psychologists who practice as therapists in the USA, indicated that the overwhelming majority (87%) considered animal abuse to be a mental health issue [14].
Children (10%) who admitted to abusing animals also correlated with aggression against people and property. They identified a predilection for committing theft but also displayed reduced empathy and suicidal tendencies. Extrapolation of the study numbers over a societal time-frame of 40 years would suggest around 4,000 individuals in a typical Romanian city with a population of 60,000, exhibiting such aggressive, crime-oriented tendencies.
Animal abuser profile correlations:
From Levin, J and Arluke in 'The Link Between Animal Abuse and Human Violence', ed Andrew Linzey [15]:
"Inflicting injury, suffering or death on an animal, absent of provocation or hostility, gives an individual tremendous psychological pleasure... the malicious youngster rehearses his sadistic attacks - perhaps on animals, perhaps on other people, perhaps on both - and continues into his adult years to perpetrate the same sorts of sadistic acts on human beings. His attacks on animals are serious and personal.
He chooses 'socially valued or culturally humanized animals - for example dogs and cats - against which to carry out his sadistic aims but he is likely to repeat his abusive behavior on a variety of animals.
If he later finds a socially acceptable means of compensating for his sense of powerlessness, then he might very well escape the grip of violence perpetrated against humans. If not, his early experience with animal cruelty may become a training ground for later committing assaults, rape, and even murder"
Previous research has shown that exposure to condoned and legitimized aggression, invites moral disengagement and acts as a learning facility where self-regulation is reduced and aggression enhanced [16]. Legitimization of the diminishment of the status of a sub-group also enhances this possibility. In Romania, a legitimized victim exists on every street corner creating a potential ‘aggression training facility’. Legitimization and availability provide a unique opportunity for aggression enhancement [17] [18]. If further identification of abuse of the Romanian stray animal as a catalyst for aggression were needed, the concept of ‘displaced aggression’ whereby aggression is enacted against another who played no part in the precipitating event [19], means that the animal victim, devalued by society as undesirable ‘outcasts’, presents a ready and increased focus for an aggression outlet from anger acquired from other sources [20].
With a study group cohort of 570 children aged 15-18, the ‘Making the Link' Study will seek to introduce interventions addressing identified empathy diminishment and enhanced aggression. A Humane Education program will include programs to modify attitudes toward people and animals. Psychometric measurements will be taken after a two year period to evaluate psychological change to the children and resultant impact on society.
Primary concern reflected from the Pilot Study is that if Romania is a sanctioned, legitimized ‘aggression training facility’ and associated connection with crime, such personality profiles will enact their anti-social aberrations throughout a greater European society where previously such attitudes were minimal. In a society where all are interconnected, there would appear to be danger in having a singular ‘blind spot’ of ‘no competence’. Behind that ‘blind spot’ may lie the ‘hands that sow the seeds of violence, aggression and death‘!
I would conclude by using the words quoted by Professor Eleonora Gullone-Parhar on the connection between animal abuse and inter-human aggression. She writes:’ in this area of ‘the Link’ – as in several others, such as the area of youth mental health – the ‘difference between what we know and what we do, is greater than the difference between what we know and what we don’t know’.
The issue is of a potential magnitude which cannot be ignored. History may yet write the words and ‘no competence‘ may ultimately prove to require re-definition as... ‘incompetent’!
But then it would be too late!
For the bibliography of this article, please see 'The Invisible Rape of Europe'
‘Making the Link' Study Project was created in collaboration with University of Teesside, UK, and University of Denver, USA, to evidence how positive change could be brought to a society by addressing the results of the unique phenomenon of the extensive numbers of homeless animals and their impact on people and society. This is a phenomenon which exists in various regions of Europe but is endemic in Romania and which uniquely has a government legitimized stray animal ‘eradication’ policy. No study has previously been conducted in such environments, and consequently impact on individual and societal health has not previously been explored.
This blatant disregard for life encourages a harsh and callous attitude toward animals. In many instances the suffering of the animals is disregarded, resulting in obscene cruelty which is often witnessed by children. There is substantial empirical evidence that animal cruelty co-occurs with other antisocial or criminal behaviors, particularly aggressive behaviors. Those who are cruel to animals have been demonstrated to be more likely to engage in domestic violence, murder and bullying [1]. Of particular importance, the witnessing of animal abuse by children has even been implicated as a risk factor for the development of aggressive behaviors towards both humans and animals. Numerous examples are identified where people who have been convicted of inter-human aggression and violence have also been found to engage in animal cruelty. At the extreme end, murderers (e.g., serial killers) have over and over again been demonstrated to have exhibited a history of severe animal abuse. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
Indeed the LINK is currently used extensively by organizations in the USA (e.g., FBI) and increasingly in Australia, to identify animal abuse as being potentially predictive of inter-human abuse. The empirical evidence for the link is so strong that, in her recent book, [8] argues that by enacting adequate animal cruelty laws that properly indicate the seriousness of the animal cruelty crime committed, future violence toward both human and animal victims can be prevented. In the United States, at least 27 states now allow courts to bar animal cruelty perpetrators from owning or coming into contact with companion animals if they have been convicted of a crime. Also, more than 30 US states now have laws that shift the financial burden for the caring of abused or neglected animals to the defendants. Thirty US states also currently authorize the reporting of suspected animal cruelty by veterinarians. Further, reflecting acknowledgement of the link between animal cruelty and human violence, and heeding the call for cross-reporting, Eight U.S. states now have laws that authorize child or espousal abuse investigators and animal control officers to inform each other when they suspect cruelty.
In an Australian study, 61.5% of convicted animal abuse offenders had also committed an assault, 17% had committed sexual abuse, and 8% had arson convictions. Animal abuse was a better predictor of sexual assault than were previous convictions for homicide, arson, or firearms offences. Animal cruelty offenders committed an average of four different types of criminal offences. All sexual homicide offenders reported having been cruel to animals. Sexual assault, domestic violence, and firearms offences featured prominently in cruelty offenders’ criminal histories (Clarke, 2002).
Given the strong links between the witnessing of and engagement in animal abuse and other criminal and aggressive behaviors, it follows that if we cultivate a culture of compassion toward our non-human citizens, current and future generations will benefit through reduced antisocial and violent behavior toward all sentient beings.
Psychometric instruments including those used extensively by clinicians in the USA were presented to 169 children aged between 14-16 years in the City of Bistrita, Romania. A similar presentation was made to a control group of 111 children in Berlin, Germany. Given that exposure to abuse can produce a progressive desensitization process with attendant reduction in empathy [9] - four psychometric measures were introduced. Two seeking to evaluate empathy factors - Basic Empathy Scale (20 items); [10] and Empathy Assessment Index (23 items); [11] Achenbach Youth Self Report (114 items); [12] to explore a range of psychological factors and a modified version of CTSARE (14 items) [13] providing a self-response questionnaire. The YSR was modified to include two additional questions about exposure to abuse and perpetration of abuse.
It was found that in Bistrita, 86,3% of the children had witnessed animal abuse in public. 65% claimed to have been emotionally affected by the experience. Such abuse has been identified as poisoning, hanging and mutilation of homeless animals.
This provides a direct contrast to western societies where almost 50% of dog owners considered their pets to be ‘members of the family’ [21]. A survey of psychologists who practice as therapists in the USA, indicated that the overwhelming majority (87%) considered animal abuse to be a mental health issue [14].
Children (10%) who admitted to abusing animals also correlated with aggression against people and property. They identified a predilection for committing theft but also displayed reduced empathy and suicidal tendencies. Extrapolation of the study numbers over a societal time-frame of 40 years would suggest around 4,000 individuals in a typical Romanian city with a population of 60,000, exhibiting such aggressive, crime-oriented tendencies.
Animal abuser profile correlations:
- Contemplating suicide (r=.213 p<0.01)
- Aggression (e.g. N=168), fighting (r= .202 p<.001), physically attacking people (r= .277, p< 0.01), hot temper (r= .224 p<0.01)
- Destruction of own and other's property - Own property (r=.214 p<0.01) - Other's property (r= .350 p< 0.001)
- Mood swings (r= .162 P<0.01)
- Arson (r= .208 P<0.01 )
- Theft (r= .269 P<0.01)
- Thoughts that others would think were strange ( r= .221 P<0.01)
- Think about sex too much (r= .271 P<0.01)
- Honesty (r = -.236 P <0.01)
- Get into many fights (r = .202 P<0.01)
From Levin, J and Arluke in 'The Link Between Animal Abuse and Human Violence', ed Andrew Linzey [15]:
"Inflicting injury, suffering or death on an animal, absent of provocation or hostility, gives an individual tremendous psychological pleasure... the malicious youngster rehearses his sadistic attacks - perhaps on animals, perhaps on other people, perhaps on both - and continues into his adult years to perpetrate the same sorts of sadistic acts on human beings. His attacks on animals are serious and personal.
He chooses 'socially valued or culturally humanized animals - for example dogs and cats - against which to carry out his sadistic aims but he is likely to repeat his abusive behavior on a variety of animals.
If he later finds a socially acceptable means of compensating for his sense of powerlessness, then he might very well escape the grip of violence perpetrated against humans. If not, his early experience with animal cruelty may become a training ground for later committing assaults, rape, and even murder"
Previous research has shown that exposure to condoned and legitimized aggression, invites moral disengagement and acts as a learning facility where self-regulation is reduced and aggression enhanced [16]. Legitimization of the diminishment of the status of a sub-group also enhances this possibility. In Romania, a legitimized victim exists on every street corner creating a potential ‘aggression training facility’. Legitimization and availability provide a unique opportunity for aggression enhancement [17] [18]. If further identification of abuse of the Romanian stray animal as a catalyst for aggression were needed, the concept of ‘displaced aggression’ whereby aggression is enacted against another who played no part in the precipitating event [19], means that the animal victim, devalued by society as undesirable ‘outcasts’, presents a ready and increased focus for an aggression outlet from anger acquired from other sources [20].
With a study group cohort of 570 children aged 15-18, the ‘Making the Link' Study will seek to introduce interventions addressing identified empathy diminishment and enhanced aggression. A Humane Education program will include programs to modify attitudes toward people and animals. Psychometric measurements will be taken after a two year period to evaluate psychological change to the children and resultant impact on society.
Primary concern reflected from the Pilot Study is that if Romania is a sanctioned, legitimized ‘aggression training facility’ and associated connection with crime, such personality profiles will enact their anti-social aberrations throughout a greater European society where previously such attitudes were minimal. In a society where all are interconnected, there would appear to be danger in having a singular ‘blind spot’ of ‘no competence’. Behind that ‘blind spot’ may lie the ‘hands that sow the seeds of violence, aggression and death‘!
I would conclude by using the words quoted by Professor Eleonora Gullone-Parhar on the connection between animal abuse and inter-human aggression. She writes:’ in this area of ‘the Link’ – as in several others, such as the area of youth mental health – the ‘difference between what we know and what we do, is greater than the difference between what we know and what we don’t know’.
The issue is of a potential magnitude which cannot be ignored. History may yet write the words and ‘no competence‘ may ultimately prove to require re-definition as... ‘incompetent’!
But then it would be too late!
For the bibliography of this article, please see 'The Invisible Rape of Europe'
About the authors
Professor Eleonora Gullone-Parhar (Australia), is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Monash University, Australia, a Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society, and a Fellow of the Institute for Human-Animal Connection at the University of Denver, USA
Malcolm Plant (UK), BSc, BA (Hons), MSc, Dipl. Psychology, is the Initiator of the 'Making the Link' Study and Intervention Project, a Fellow of the Institute for Human-Animal Connection at the University of Denver (USA), an Associate of Teeside University (UK), the Director at 'Lawyers for Animals', and the Legal Adviser at 'Occupy for Animals', as well as one of the editors of the book 'The Invisible Rape of Europe'
Malcolm Plant (UK), BSc, BA (Hons), MSc, Dipl. Psychology, is the Initiator of the 'Making the Link' Study and Intervention Project, a Fellow of the Institute for Human-Animal Connection at the University of Denver (USA), an Associate of Teeside University (UK), the Director at 'Lawyers for Animals', and the Legal Adviser at 'Occupy for Animals', as well as one of the editors of the book 'The Invisible Rape of Europe'
The Emergence of Callous and Unemotional Traits in the Developing Child
Exposure to Animal Abuse as a Form of Psychological Violence
by Professor Philip Tedeschi - Over 14 years ago, researcher Arnold Arluke suggested that children’s exposure to violence had the potential to further the “generalization of deviance", whereby the abuse of animals can be internalized by children as one of a range of anti-social behaviors learned by children. Since that time, in academic and research initiatives around the world and with a broad consensus among child development specialists, there is agreement that exposure to animal abuse is significant in teaching children a deviant and pathological interaction pattern that may manifest within a behavioral and psychosocial spectrum of associated with violence and antisocial functioning in the developing anti social adolescent and adult.
One of the current agendas in responding to trends of human generated violence, is to define the origins and the development trajectory of Psychopathy. In work done in both the US and elsewhere there is incontrovertible evidence that early exposure to animal abuse has the outcome of establishing the psychological environment for the early on set of what is often referenced as “Callous and Unemotional Traits”. For youth who in early developmental terms get exposed to substantial suffering, cruelty and violence are at increased risk of developing a mental status that makes them less sensitive to other's feelings and function in a less empathic manner. It also appears to contribute to impulsive, aggressive and antisocial patterns, with increased risk for the development of, and eventual diagnosis of conduct disorder.
Youths who present with both lower impulse control and also minimal empathic regard for others are at greater risk of the development of adult antisocial functioning and adult psychopathic personality traits. In studies that have examined this developmental trajectory it appears that the development of callous aggression are at significantly increased risk of engaging in cruel behaviors. In 1987, researchers, Felthous and Kellert [1] concluded that exposure to animal abuse in children posed a substantial risk factor for the development of disruptive behavior disorders, the childhood diagnostic precursor, to anti-social characteristics in adults. At that time they defined this exposure to animal abuse as “A pattern of deliberately, repeatedly and unnecessarily hurting vertebrate animals in a manner likely to cause serious injury". Of significance in this early definition was that the cruelty was inflicted on animals in “deliberate” ways and “knowingly”. These definitions should alert us to the significant mental health implications of the institutionalized extermination laws and even social normative activity of animal cruelty. This should particularly be of concern when youth are repeatedly exposed to cruelty. This type of cruelty has been found to be distinct from a psychological standpoint from accidental and emphasize the deliberate nature of the cruel action.
As we further explore this issue and attempt to establish prevention models that would ensure that youths are not developing under circumstances shaping them with a low empathy, callousness and unemotional traits, we consistently find that these behaviors are generally learned. The learning can be within a family context, situational and broader social exposure. From this empirical conclusion it is clear that we must be vigilant to the experience and exposure to cruelty that occur, especially while children are in formative developmental stages. There are many other dimensions related to how animal cruelty can contribute to increased risk factors in children. This idea has very important implication for public health mandates, community intervention policies to support the health and wellbeing of children and the treatment and response to animals we all live among.
For the bibliography of this article, please see 'The Invisible Rape of Europe'
About the author
Professor Philip Tedeschi (USA), is the Executive Director of the Institute for Human-Animal Connection at the University of Denver, USA, and a Project-Partner of the 'Making the Link' Study