The Link: Animal Cruelty and Interpersonal Violence

Question 1

Why do people harm animals?

Answer 1

-To control an animal
-To get back at an animal
-To get back at another person
-To satisfy a prejudice against a species/breed
-To enhance one’s own aggressivess
-To shock people for amusement

Question 2

ON MIDTERM

Why does an ABUSER also abuse animals?

Answer 2

-Demonstrate their power
-Isolate the victim from a network of support
-Teach submission
-Punish the victim for leaving the home
-Harm the victim by forcing her to participate in abuse

Question 3

ON MIDTERM

What are 3 symptoms of antisocial behavior in juvelines who are perpetrators of animal abuse? (same as serial killers)

Answer 3

1. Setting fires
2. Bullying
3. Forced sex

Question 4

ON MIDTERM

Who was Mary Ellen McCormack?

Answer 4

An 8 year old girl who was severely abused by her foster parents. She would receive:
-regular beatings
-forced to sleep on the floor
-forbidden to go outdoors during the day
-frequently left alone in a locked room

During this time, there were no laws protecting children from physical abuse

Mary’s case of child abuse lead to the creation of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (first child protective agency in the world)

Question 5

CHARACTERISTICS of people who are cruel to animals include…

Answer 5

-Ignorant
-Inability to empathize
-Believe animals to be objects
-Increased sensitivity to stress/frustration
-Accustomed to family abuse

Question 6

ON MIDTERM

What are 3-5 Lockwood Risk Factors?

Answer 6

1. Multiple forms of injury to individual victims (Those who inflict 2 or more forms of injury are at a higher risk)
2. Use of fire
   (The connection between animal cruelty and arson is well known; intentional burning of a live animal suggests they are at high risk)
3. Duration of abuse
   (Prolonged maltreatment; the longer the torture, the greater at risk you are in society)
4. Animal victim was sexual assaulted/mutilated in genital areas or the perpetrator was sexually aroused at the time/after the abuse
5. Perpetrator documented the act of animal abuse through photographs, video, audio recordings, etc.
6. Perpetrator returned at least once to the scene of abuse to relive the experience
7. Perpetrator seems himself as the victim; does not take responsibility