How does growing up as an adolescent in a violent environment make you become cruel to animals?
Most studies focused on the developmental relationship between animal cruelty and violent behavior in the future. However, the study takes a different path and investigates growing up in a violent environment as a determinant of animal cruelty. The range of literature reviewed provides different ideas and perspectives to the research topic. The common approach to the investigation of violent environment and animal cruelty is quantitative in order to determine a link. However, the current study employs the qualitative approach to derive a better understanding of the relationship. The sources reviewed comprise qualitative studies related to the topic investigated.
Arkow (1997) used the interpretive philosophical tradition explained the close relationship of child protective services and animal protection movement and the additional link between domestic violence intervention programs and animal protection programs. The setting of the investigation is the social welfare and legal services in the United States. The purpose of the research is to determine and establish the linkages among these programs in order to derive a better understanding of the co-occurrence of various issues, particularly animal cruelty, child abuse and spousal violence. The study reviewed the nature of national programs focusing on these issues. Results that animal abuse forms part of the web of symptoms of dysfunctional families supporting the importance of the interface of these programs for effective intervention programs. Researcher bias emerges from the subjective selection of the elements used to assess these programs. This study would benefit from the consideration of actual cases of children and young people involved in animal abuse and tracing their family environment.
Flynn (2000) utilizes the interpretive philosophical tradition in investigating the focus of family professionals on animal abuse as this comes up in their dealings with clients or patients. The setting of the research is the social services, particularly the practice of professionals working with families in the United States. The purpose of the study is to determine reasons for family professionals to focus on the issue of animal cruelty and recommend changes in policies on family counseling and other forms of intervention. The data collection method is review of the results of various empirical studies. Results showed that one of the seven reasons that compel family professionals to focus on animal abuse is the link to interpersonal and family violence. Researcher bias emerges from the selection and interpretation of the results of empirical studies. The study would benefit from a specific focus by drawing primary data such as through case studies.
Duncan and Miller (2002) also employed the interpretive philosophical tradition in investigating the abusive family context of animal cruelty among children and adult violence. The setting of the investigation is global by considering different studies made on the topic. The purpose of the study is to explore the different theories explaining the family context as a justification for animal cruelty. The data collection method is secondary research by collecting and reviewing different theories explaining this phenomenon. Results showed that while theories indirectly link family environment and animal cruelty and directly connect family environment and adult violence. This implies the need for empirical studies investigating the relationship between family environment and animal cruelty since existing theories are unable to link directly the two variables. Researcher bias possibly emerges from the reliance on the discretion of the researcher over the selection and review of theories on the topic.
Becker and French (2004) employed phenomenology as the philosophical tradition in investigating the relationship of child abuse and domestic abuse with animal cruelty. The setting is the United States and Canada since the study considered literature on the topic from these geographical settings and considered a program established in the United States, the Links Group that advocates services focusing on the issues of child abuse and animal abuse. The purpose of the study is to draw themes from existing studies on the topic and investigate the nature of the Links Group as a manifestation of the link between child abuse and domestic abuse on animal cruelty. The method of data collection is secondary research and case study of the Links Group. Literature shows that an abusive family environment, whether children directly experience the violence or witnesses domestic violence, the children are likely to exhibit abusive behavior commencing with animal cruelty based on the progressive theory of violent behavior. The Links Group emerged to develop therapy involving integrative solutions addressing both child abuse and domestic violence and animal cruelty. However, this is problematic as expressed through the difficulties in balancing the competing interests of child and animal welfare. Bias possible possibly emerges from the interpretation of the case study data using only one group or program. An area for expansion would be the focus on children undergoing treatment to understand further the relationship of child abuse and animal cruelty in support of recommendations for better integrative policies and programs.
Currie (2006) also employed the phenomenological philosophical tradition in investigating the engagement in animal cruelty of children exposed to domestic violence. The setting of the study is a community welfare center in the United States. The purpose of the study is two-fold. One is to determine whether the children exposed to domestic violence would exhibit cruelty to animals. The other is to determine whether the age and gender of children exposed to domestic violence influenced the propensity of involvement in cruelty to animals. The data collection method is observation and interview with workers of the community center. Results showed that the children of women with a history of domestic violence have a greater likelihood of engaging in animal cruelty when compared to women without a history of domestic violence. Age and gender have no intervening role in the involvement in animal cruelty. Researcher bias likely emerges from the interpretation of the researcher of observations. An area for expansion would be the consideration of specific cases of families with a history of domestic violence and children involved in animal cruelty.
The studies support the link of the exposure of children to a violent family environment and involvement in animal cruelty. However, there is limited explanation of the link. This supports the purpose of the current investigation to investigate the link in-depth based on the accounts and descriptions of families with a history of domestic violence and children involved in animal abuse.
References
Arkow, P. (1997). Relationships between animal abuse and other forms of family violence. Protecting Children, 13(2), 4-9.
Becker, F., & French, L. (2004). Making the links: Child abuse, animal cruelty, and domestic violence. Child Abuse Review, 13(6), 399-414.
Currie, C. L. (2006). Animal cruelty by children exposed to domestic violence. Child Abuse & Neglect, 30(4), 425-435.
Duncan, A., & Miller, C. (2002). The impact of an abusive family context on childhood animal cruelty and adult violence. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 7(14), 365-383.
Flynn, C. P. (2004). Why family professionals can no longer ignore violence toward animals. Family Relations, 49(1), 87-95.
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