Psychological Profile Of The Animal Abuser, In 7 Traits
Animal abuse is a phenomenon that exists with some frequency in our society, since you only have to take a look at social networks to realize that there are many individuals who hurt, torture and inflict pain on defenseless animals.
And although many people are outraged by this type of behavior, This cruelty towards animals is not always condemned by our society You just have to see the passion that bullfights arouse or some cultural phenomena such as the “toro embolado”.
In these last cases, the phenomena of group influence are decisive, but in others, especially those in which individuals act alone, there are a series of traits that predominate in the personality of the animal abuser. In this article we will talk about this topic and delve into the psychological characteristics of these types of abusers.
Unfortunately, cases of animal abuse continue to be repeated in the world, and it is not strange either, because human beings can carry out atrocious and savage behaviors. But… what could be going through the minds of these people that make them capable of behaving so cruelly against dogs, cats and other species of animals?
This is what Alan Felthous, a psychiatrist who led an investigation to determine the reasons that lead an individual to become an animal abuser, asked himself. According to the data from his study, the main motivations are:
Some studies show that In 30% of cases, animal abuse is carried out by young people, and many times animal abusers are more likely to be family abusers in the future: they are 5 times more likely to be one. Now, there are two ways to mistreat animals: directly and indirectly.
Direct abuse is one in which the person carries out a series of behaviors that are intended to harm the animal at that specific moment, for example, hitting or torturing it. On the other hand, indirect animal abuse is that which occurs when the abuser does not provide the necessary care for his well-being. For example, by depriving him of food.
Other authors differentiate between active or passive abuse. The first manifests itself when the abuser carries out a series of behaviors to hurt the animal (suffocation, kicking, etc.), and the second when the subject mistreats the animal for other reasons such as: abandonment, neglecting its hygiene, commercial exploitation, fights. dogs, etc.
Psychological profile of the animal abuser
In the following lines you can find a list of traits that people who mistreat animals have.
1. Lack of empathy and remorse
It is impossible to become an abuser when people are able to put themselves in the shoes of others and understand the suffering they are going through. Individuals who show cruelty towards animals and brutally punish them are people who are insensitive to their pain and suffering.
Lack of empathy is a trait that only animal abusers present to us, but also any type of abuser. Besides, Animal abusers do not regret their actions or engage in self-criticism and they usually extend this type of behavior with other people, for example, with their children.
Antisocial personality is characterized because the individual who presents it tends to engage in behaviors contrary to social norms and even laws, and ignores the rights of others in favor of his or her own.
A study published in the journal Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law In 2002, he found that People who abuse animals often have antisocial personality disorder, antisocial traits and substance abuse (in the case of adults). The same study indicates that half of people with this type of personality engage in sadistic behavior, and if they commit these types of acts before the age of 10, the prognosis is worse, leading to them committing crimes.
3. Lack of proper education
Childhood is an important stage of life and parental educational styles significantly influence the growth of children as people and social beings. Many animal abusers (although not all) are individuals who grow up in families or environments in which violent behavior develops, sometimes directed towards the weakest (the elderly, women, children and pets). Having experienced it since childhood, its negative effects are perceived as normal
4. Encouragement by violence
Some studies also show that these individuals are prone to violence and are stimulated by it For this reason, some animal abusers, especially the youngest ones, tend to perceive mistreatment of animals as a non-punishable act and even find it entertaining. In addition, these subjects usually have a low tolerance for frustration and an explosive temperament.
5. Autocratic personality
As psychiatrist Alan Felthous concludes in the research discussed above, “animal abusers are people who want to demonstrate power and authority and act against weaker victims. They are authoritarian people, who do not usually listen to the opinions of others and are prone to sending orders.”
These individuals They have anti-democratic beliefs and tend to direct violence towards weak victims or “scapegoats” in order to appear strong and feared. They are cold and calculating.
6. Intolerant
Animal abusers are intolerant, and are not only more likely to disrespect the rules, but also the opinions, attitudes or behaviors of others. They tend to have prejudices (sexism, racism, etc.), which is why they tend to react in a violent, resentful and cruel way
7. Selfish
People who are capable of mistreating animals are selfish people who They only think about themselves and do not connect emotionally with other people or animals And animal abuse can occur in many ways, and can even be associated with economic benefits. For example, rhino poaching.
Selfishness is often present in this form of abuse, and that is why, when an owner gets tired of having an animal at home that he has bought on a whim, he is capable of abandoning it on a road and wishing it luck without any kind of remorse.
