Is there a link between Animal Abuse and Human violence?

Question

Most people agree that there is a defininate link between the abuse of animals and the abuse of humans. On one end there is the suggestion that people who abuse animals often are more violent, aggressive and controlling in there actions. On the other, children who abuse animals often grow up to become violent as they cannot feel empathy.

What are your views? do you agree or disagree? if so why?

have you had any experience with animal abuse in the past? how did you feel about this?

This is research for a campaign into this link, im trying to get a target audience so they can be more readily educated on the subject.

Answer 1

It's a hate crime. Period.

There's a movie I watched (and I suggest it) called Earthlings and it points out that racism, sexism, and speicism all start out with a group discriminating against another group to benefit themselves. This usually happens to someone who cannot defend themselves, whether they are being threatened with a weapon or not.

A person who abuses an animal as a child will do it because they do not see that animal as an equal. As they grow up they can have an easy time seeing themselves as better than those who are different, be they of a different s*x, age, race, or species. If you don't see a puppy as being equal to you then what's to stop you from beating him/her when he/she disobeys a command? And if you see your child as not being equal, because he/she is younger than you, what's to stop you from beating him/her when he/she does something wrong? Same thing when it comes to sexes and races.

A hate crime is a hate crime. Whether it's hurting a human or a non-human animal. Just because you can't understand their cries of pain and what they are trying to tell you when they speak in their own tongue doesn't mean they aren't equal.

I hope this answers your questions.

Answer 2

Research has demonstrated that adults diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder abused animals when they were children.