Abstract
This study had three purposes: to explore psychological characteristics of animal abusers (criminal thinking styles, empathy, and personality traits), to replicate previously reported results (past illegal actions, bullying behavior), and to examine potential gender differences. The self-reported animal abuser group was 29 college students who reported two or more incidents of animal abuse; controls were 29 college students matched on age and gender. Participants completed self-report measures of criminal thinking, illegal behaviors, bullying, empathy, and the five-factor personality traits. Results indicated animal abusers had more previous criminal behaviors, were more likely to bully, and had the highest scores on the power orientation criminal thinking scale. Abuser by gender interactions were detected; female animal abusers scored significantly higher on several measures of criminal thinking, were found to be more likely to bully, and exhibited lower scores on measures of perspective taking and empathy compared to female controls.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 846-861 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Journal of Interpersonal Violence |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 2012 |
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Keywords
- animal abuse
- bullying
- criminal thinking
- empathy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Psychology
- Applied Psychology
Cite this
Psychological profile of male and female animal abusers. / Schwartz, Rebecca L.; Fremouw, William; Schenk, Allison; Ragatz, Laurie L.
In: Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 27, No. 5, 01.03.2012, p. 846-861.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychological profile of male and female animal abusers
AU - Schwartz, Rebecca L.
AU - Fremouw, William
AU - Schenk, Allison
AU - Ragatz, Laurie L.
PY - 2012/3/1
Y1 - 2012/3/1
N2 - This study had three purposes: to explore psychological characteristics of animal abusers (criminal thinking styles, empathy, and personality traits), to replicate previously reported results (past illegal actions, bullying behavior), and to examine potential gender differences. The self-reported animal abuser group was 29 college students who reported two or more incidents of animal abuse; controls were 29 college students matched on age and gender. Participants completed self-report measures of criminal thinking, illegal behaviors, bullying, empathy, and the five-factor personality traits. Results indicated animal abusers had more previous criminal behaviors, were more likely to bully, and had the highest scores on the power orientation criminal thinking scale. Abuser by gender interactions were detected; female animal abusers scored significantly higher on several measures of criminal thinking, were found to be more likely to bully, and exhibited lower scores on measures of perspective taking and empathy compared to female controls.
AB - This study had three purposes: to explore psychological characteristics of animal abusers (criminal thinking styles, empathy, and personality traits), to replicate previously reported results (past illegal actions, bullying behavior), and to examine potential gender differences. The self-reported animal abuser group was 29 college students who reported two or more incidents of animal abuse; controls were 29 college students matched on age and gender. Participants completed self-report measures of criminal thinking, illegal behaviors, bullying, empathy, and the five-factor personality traits. Results indicated animal abusers had more previous criminal behaviors, were more likely to bully, and had the highest scores on the power orientation criminal thinking scale. Abuser by gender interactions were detected; female animal abusers scored significantly higher on several measures of criminal thinking, were found to be more likely to bully, and exhibited lower scores on measures of perspective taking and empathy compared to female controls.
KW - animal abuse
KW - bullying
KW - criminal thinking
KW - empathy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84858857962&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84858857962&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0886260511423254
DO - 10.1177/0886260511423254
M3 - Article
C2 - 22007108
AN - SCOPUS:84858857962
VL - 27
SP - 846
EP - 861
JO - Journal of Interpersonal Violence
JF - Journal of Interpersonal Violence
SN - 0886-2605
IS - 5
ER -