Psychological risk factors for animal harm and abuse among children and young people

Joanne M. Williams; Laura M. Wauthier

doi:10.4324/9781003165552-2

Psychological risk factors for animal harm and abuse among children and young people

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

Abstract / Description of output

This chapter starts by focusing on the role of pets in children's lives and presenting the ‘spectrum’ of interactions children can have with animals. The focus is on children and adolescents because early development influences later behaviour towards animals, and intervening early can prevent later animal abuse. We present four case studies to illustrate different types of harm towards animals and a range of factors at play.

We then move on to considering developmental psychological risk factors for animal abuse. We focus on: age and gender as risk factors; attachment strategy and attachment to pets; self-regulation and behaviour; individual differences in empathy and personality variables such as callous-unemotional traits; cognitive development and understanding of welfare needs; attitudes to animals; and the social environment the child grows up in and the impact that has on their behaviour to animals.

The chapter closes with a focus on the need to support children's positive relations with animals, and a call to treat children who abuse animals with compassion and understanding.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Understanding Animal Abuse and How to Intervene with Children and Young People
Editors	Gilly Ferreira, Joanne Williams
Place of Publication	London
Publisher	Routledge
Chapter	2
Pages	14-35
Number of pages	22
Edition	1st
ISBN (Electronic)	9781003165552
ISBN (Print)	9780367761110, 9780367761134
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003165552-2
Publication status	Published - 31 Mar 2023

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10.4324/9781003165552-2

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title = "Psychological risk factors for animal harm and abuse among children and young people",

abstract = "This chapter starts by focusing on the role of pets in children's lives and presenting the {\textquoteleft}spectrum{\textquoteright} of interactions children can have with animals. The focus is on children and adolescents because early development influences later behaviour towards animals, and intervening early can prevent later animal abuse. We present four case studies to illustrate different types of harm towards animals and a range of factors at play.We then move on to considering developmental psychological risk factors for animal abuse. We focus on: age and gender as risk factors; attachment strategy and attachment to pets; self-regulation and behaviour; individual differences in empathy and personality variables such as callous-unemotional traits; cognitive development and understanding of welfare needs; attitudes to animals; and the social environment the child grows up in and the impact that has on their behaviour to animals.The chapter closes with a focus on the need to support children's positive relations with animals, and a call to treat children who abuse animals with compassion and understanding.",

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Psychological risk factors for animal harm and abuse among children and young people. / Williams, Joanne M.; Wauthier, Laura M.
Understanding Animal Abuse and How to Intervene with Children and Young People . ed. / Gilly Ferreira; Joanne Williams. 1st. ed. London: Routledge, 2023. p. 14-35.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Psychological risk factors for animal harm and abuse among children and young people

AU - Williams, Joanne M.

AU - Wauthier, Laura M.

PY - 2023/3/31

Y1 - 2023/3/31

N2 - This chapter starts by focusing on the role of pets in children's lives and presenting the ‘spectrum’ of interactions children can have with animals. The focus is on children and adolescents because early development influences later behaviour towards animals, and intervening early can prevent later animal abuse. We present four case studies to illustrate different types of harm towards animals and a range of factors at play.We then move on to considering developmental psychological risk factors for animal abuse. We focus on: age and gender as risk factors; attachment strategy and attachment to pets; self-regulation and behaviour; individual differences in empathy and personality variables such as callous-unemotional traits; cognitive development and understanding of welfare needs; attitudes to animals; and the social environment the child grows up in and the impact that has on their behaviour to animals.The chapter closes with a focus on the need to support children's positive relations with animals, and a call to treat children who abuse animals with compassion and understanding.

AB - This chapter starts by focusing on the role of pets in children's lives and presenting the ‘spectrum’ of interactions children can have with animals. The focus is on children and adolescents because early development influences later behaviour towards animals, and intervening early can prevent later animal abuse. We present four case studies to illustrate different types of harm towards animals and a range of factors at play.We then move on to considering developmental psychological risk factors for animal abuse. We focus on: age and gender as risk factors; attachment strategy and attachment to pets; self-regulation and behaviour; individual differences in empathy and personality variables such as callous-unemotional traits; cognitive development and understanding of welfare needs; attitudes to animals; and the social environment the child grows up in and the impact that has on their behaviour to animals.The chapter closes with a focus on the need to support children's positive relations with animals, and a call to treat children who abuse animals with compassion and understanding.

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M3 - Chapter (peer-reviewed)

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SN - 9780367761134

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BT - Understanding Animal Abuse and How to Intervene with Children and Young People

A2 - Ferreira, Gilly

A2 - Williams, Joanne

PB - Routledge

CY - London

ER -

Psychological risk factors for animal harm and abuse among children and young people

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