Fears and Understanding of Animals in Middle Childhood

Bowd, Alan D.

doi:10.1080/00221325.1984.10532260

Cited by 33 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Kidd and Kidd (1990) found that children's general interest in animals was stimulated by pet ownership. Closer contact with animals through pet ownership appears to underlie both more positive feelings towards animals and a reduced fear of them (Bowd 1984). Finally, family composition and lifestyle were important factors which influenced the children's behavior with the guinea pig, similar to the results of previous studies (e.g., Melson 1988;Kidd and Kidd 1989).…”

Section: Influence Of Different Factorssupporting

confidence: 55%

The Strange Animal Situation Test

et al. 2011

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International audienceMany tools assess the reactions of humans encountering familiar or unfamiliar partners or environments. Companion animals belong to our everyday environment and influence our lives. Whereas many standardized tools test companion animals' reactions to humans, few evaluate humans' reactions to companion animals. We present here a test with a guinea pig that can be applied to a wide range of people in the home environment. This standardized test and simple coding system enabled us to characterize individual behavioral profiles of children and compare them in relation to different factors (e.g., gender, age, pet ownership). We observed 59 children (32 girls, 27 boys), aged between 6 and 12 years old. Our results show that most children first looked at the guinea pig (72%), smiled when they saw it (49%), and then went directly towards it without looking at their parent (79%). Many children touched the animal without hesitation (86%). Moreover, this test reveals more than the mere interest of children in guinea pigs. Indeed, a cluster analysis differentiated four behavioral profiles that reflected aspects of the children's experience, gender, and lifestyles. When encountering the unfamiliar guinea pig, children could be "confident" (go straight to the animal and touch it; 64%), "anxious" (look at parent; 12%), "indirect" (hesitate and touch; 14%), or "careful" (emit vocal and/or verbal behaviors; 10%). The potential future application of this research is to compare behavioral profiles quantitatively over the long term, taking into account the development and experiences of people with typical development and those with atypical development (e.g., autistic disorders)

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Section: Influence Of Different Factorssupporting

confidence: 55%

The Strange Animal Situation Test

et al. 2011

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“…The more realistic fears included bodily injury or physical danger. These findings have been supported by Bowd (1984) and Bauer (1976).…”

supporting

confidence: 53%

Gifted Children's Fears

Derevensky¹,

Coleman²

1989

Gifted Child Quarterly

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The present study investigated the fears of intellectually gifted children and compared them with those of children of normal intelligence. The results suggest that their fears are consistent with their developmental level, are realistic, and display considerable frustration, helplessness, and pessimism concerning their future. Their fears were found to be similar to those of older normal' children and to reflect advanced cognitive and social awarenesss. Suggestions and implications for classroom teachers are provided.

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“…It is believed that pet owners form an attachment with their animals, which reinforces a positive attitude towards animals in general (Bowd 1984;Furnham and Heyes 1993;Paul and Serpell 1993). Experience with animals is likely to affect how animals are perceived; therefore the relationship between factors such as experience of animals, the perceived mental abilities of animals, and the perceived attractiveness of animals is interactive and fluid.…”

Section: Type Of Animal Usedmentioning

confidence: 95%

Justifying Attitudes toward Animal Use: A Qualitative Study of People's Views and Beliefs

2008

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Animal use" is a contentious topic that refers to practices involving the utilization of non-human animals by human beings. These practices often evoke strong and emotional reactions from opposing parties, and individuals can hold incongruent views concerning different ways in which animals are used. Yet previous research in this area has tended to portray attitudes toward animal use as uni-dimensional (rather than distinguishing between different types of use), and the field has been dominated by quantitative approaches that focus on participant characteristics such as gender, age, and so on, in order to explain variance in people's views on this topic. The present study assumed that attitudes are not uni-dimensional and applied Grounded Theory Methodology in order to determine psychological factors that underlie people's views concerning animal use issues. Eight participant-led interviews explored the factors that people consider when rationalizing their attitudes toward the use of animals, and interview transcripts were analyzed with an aim to understanding why attitudes vary depending upon the type of animal use in question. Three key themes were identified, labelled as "type of animal used," "purpose of animal use," and "knowledge of animal use." These represent beliefs concerning animals and animal use, and help explain why people can support some animal use practices whilst opposing others. We conclude that taking a psychological approach in order to further examine the beliefs that underlie attitudes provides a way forward for future research.

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Fears and Understanding of Animals in Middle Childhood

Cited by 33 publications

References 3 publications

The Strange Animal Situation Test

The Strange Animal Situation Test

Gifted Children's Fears

Justifying Attitudes toward Animal Use: A Qualitative Study of People's Views and Beliefs

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