Alison Kwong
F1- What can we learn from the connection between animal abuse and human violence?
Children's who are cruel to animals is the "first warning sign of later violence, delinquency, and criminal behavior,” (Johnston). In most cases, children's tend to be violent towards an animal when they had "either witnessed or experienced abuse themselves," (Johnston). Otherwise, they are hurting animals due to peer pressure, curiosity, forced abuse, mood enhancement or to retaliate against other people. (Johnston). Abuse conducted by young children's can be classified as pathological, delinquent, and exploratory animal abuse (Ascione). In the category of pathological animal abuse, children in this category abuse animals due to psychological disturbances of varying severity. Such as children's who were exposed to domestic, physical and emotional abuse during their childhood experience are likely to be violent towards animals (Ascione). In such case where children experiences abusive childhood, there’s a chance that the children may not develop empathy and sympathy (Animal). With the lack of sensing empathy, they will not be able to feel distress or agony of hurting another living being. In fact, they will not think that it is wrong to be hurting others. Thus, with the absence of empathy, the abused children will act out their violence and aggression on an animal (Animal).Starting out with the act of violence of towards an animal will eventually lead them towards acting out aggression towards human beings (Animal). Youths in the delinquent animal abuse category are mostly children’s who belong in violent groups/gangs (Ascione). Lastly, the exploratory abuse category are mostly children who are either in preschool and lack proper supervision. They lack the essential educational value of understanding the importance of treating a living thing humanely (Ascione).
Families that are going through domestic violence and child maltreatment increases the chance of the children in the family to be exposed to animal abuse. Even if the family member do not perform acts of violence on animals, there’s a high chance that the child who is going through domestic violence will express their pain of victimization on their weak pets. (Ascione). In an interview conducted by Ascione, 58% of the 38 women interviewed for the study had children and 74% had pets. Out of the 74% of women who had pets, 71% responded that their adult partner had threatened or actually killed or hurt one of their pets. 32% of the 58% women who said they had children reported that their own children had killed or abused family pets (Ascione). Women who face domestic violence are at risk of having their children or pets to be victims. The motives of the batterer to commit animal cruelty is to demonstrate power and control over the family, to prevent the victim from leaving, to punish the victim, and to perpetuate an environment of fear (Domestic). Thus, to take control of their domestic partner, the batterer decides to inflict harm onto their partners pet to form an environment of fear and to make the victim feel powerless (Violence).
On a higher level, there’s a significant relation between violent offenders on animals and violence on humans. People abuse animals not only because they have a flaw in their personality, instead, it is due to a symptom of disturbance (Animal Abuse). Ones who commit barbarous acts toward animals can lead to brutal acts on humans (National). The animal abuser often sees animals as worthless and insignificant to the society (National). When an individual view animals in this perspective, it is likely for them to also take human lives as less important as well. (National). The most extreme linkage between animal abuse and human violence is serial killing. Psychological and sociological studies report that serial killers began their act of violence by practicing on animals first. “The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) considers past animal abuse when profiling serial killers.”According to Robert K. Ressler, who developed profiles of serial killers for the FBI, “Murderers...very often start out by killing and torturing animals as kids,” (Animal abuse-human).
As mentioned, childhood acts of violence on animals is the starting point of the “Cycle of violence”. Children living in violent homes are highly exposed to domestic and animal abuse. Typically, if a child had experienced combinations of domestic and animal abuse during their childhood, they will turn out to become a violent abuser themselves (Animal Cruelty). Various studies report that 70% of all animal abusers have committed at least one other criminal offense and almost 40% have committed violent crimes against people (Hodges). The link between animal abuse and serial killers had been recognized since the 1970’s. As an example, Patrick Sherrill was known for killing 14 of his co-workers at a post office and shooting himself right afterwards. Besides being a serial killer, he was well known for stealing pets and bringing them home to allow his own dog to mutilate and attack them (SpcaLA). In addition, Carroll Edward Cole was persecuted for killing five humans and through studies, his “first violent act as a child was strangling a puppy to death,” (SpcaLA). When an individual had faced many extreme trauma either emotionally or psychologically, its been explained to be possible reasons for the individual to develop trouble in human behaviors, which leads to inflicting harm on both animals and humans (Animal abuse-human). Disturbance in a humans biological brain can negatively affect their emotions in terms of empathy and anger (National). Thus, in order to recognize their own emotions of empathy and anger, they often use violence as the common method to control their behaviors (National).
When an individual is unable to sense their connection with nature and natural world, they will lack the ability to build connections and relationship with other living beings in the nature. This will lead to misunderstanding of what a living beings feelings are, and what pain means to the living being. When an individual faces challenges with such, they will not have sympathy for any pain or torture occurring on an animal or even a human being (National).
Understanding the connection between animal cruelty and human violence is important to prevent future violence. Knowing that early stages of animal abuse will potentially lead to extreme human violence allows us to understand why certain people are committing violence on humans. It is important to educate young people about abusive behaviors. By teaching children why its important to treat animals respectfully and with kindness, it can definitely make an impact. Due to the fact that violent offenders had experience of animal abuse during their childhood, teaching moral values of respecting living beings can psychologically avoid their motives of abusing animals for entertainment purposes or curiosity (No Boundaries).
Many researchers, psychologists, and others recognize the importance of keeping track of the relationship between animal abusers and human violence. Through many trends and patterns, the connections between both has significantly grown stronger. It is important to investigate animal cruelty crimes fairly is a way to accumulate serious crimes towards human beings. The whole point is to prove why it is important to be concerned about animal cruelty cases. Prosecuting and investigating animal abusers can play a significant role in reducing criminals in the society. Animal abusing is a violent act, and is considered a crime. When animal abuse is being done at the perpetrators home, other violence are often concurrent.“Sometimes it helps them understand how important it is to vigorously pursue these cases,” says Scott Heiser, director of ALDF’s Criminal Justice Program. “When someone is prosecuted for animal abuse, it sends a signal to other potential abusers in the community. It says violent behavior won’t be tolerated. And it also puts a mark on the abuser’s permanent record so in the future law enforcement officials know this is somebody who has these dangerous tendencies,” (No Boundaries).
Reporting an animal abuse case early is important to prevent future violence. If nothing is done to prevent a person from abusing an animal, the higher the risk that individual will remain on the cycle of violence, and commit violence on humans.
Works Cited
"Animal Abuse and Human Abuse: Partners in Crime." PETA. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2013. <http://www.peta.org/issues/companion-animal-issues/companion-animals-factsheets/animal-abuse-human-abuse-partners-crime/>.
"Animal and Human Violence." Animal and Human Violence. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013. <http://www.cahs-pets.org/resources/animal_and_human_violence.htm>.
"Animal Cruelty and Human Violence : The Humane Society of the United States." RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. <http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/abuse_neglect/qa/cruelty_violence_connection_faq.html>.
"The Animal Abuse-Human Violence Connection." PAWS. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013. <http://www.paws.org/human-violence-connection.html>.
Ascione, Frank R. “Animal Abuse and Youth Violence.”OJJDP, Sept. 2011. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.
"Domestic Violence and Animal Cruelty." ASPCA. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013. <http://www.aspca.org/fight-cruelty/report-animal-cruelty/domestic-violence-and-animal-cruelty>.
Hodges, Cynthia. “The Link Between Animal Cruelty and Violence Towards People.” INCASA. 2011. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
Johnston, Joni. E. “Children who are cruel to animals: When to worry.” Psychology Today, 26 Apr. 2011 Web. 15 Dec. 2013. <http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-human-equation/201104/children-who-are-cruel-animals-when-worry>
"The National Humane Education Society -Understanding Animal Neglect and Cruelty." The National Humane Education Society -Understanding Animal Neglect and Cruelty. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. <http://www.nhes.org/sections/view/330>.
"No Boundaries for Abusers: The Link Between Cruelty to Animals and Violence Toward Humans." Animal Legal Defense Fund No Boundaries for Abusers The Link Between Cruelty to Animals and Violence Toward Humans Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013. <http://aldf.org/resources/when-your-companion-animal-has-been-harmed/no-boundaries-for-abusers-the-link-between-cruelty-to-animals-and-violence-toward-humans/>.
"SpcaLA: Friends for Life." SpcaLA. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013. <http://spcala.com/humane_education/tlc/serial_killers.php>.
"Tidus - Burned Alive by Teenage Criminals." Tidus - Burned Alive by Teenage Criminals. Worldwide Canine Crusade, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013. <http://www.worldwidecaninecrusade.com/news/98-tidus-burned-alive-by-teenage-criminals.html>.
"Violence Prevention Program." Calgary Humane Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013. <http://www.calgaryhumane.ca/violenceprotection>.
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