Research conducted by Christopher Hensley and Suzanne E. Tallichet, has shown that people who engaged in violent acts against animals when they are children, are more likely to engage in interpersonal violence as an adult. Interpersonal violence is violence between individuals, and is subdivided into family and intimate partner violence and community violence (Violence Prevention Alliance). A study conducted at a southern state prison on 261 inmates revealed that more than half of the sample engaged in violent acts against animals. The violent acts that the prisoners said they engaged in towards animals were drowning, kicking, hitting, shooting, choking, burning and having sex with the animal. The table below lists the researcher’s findings.
Animal abuse is no longer recognized as incidental venting and related emotions toward animals. It is now seen as a complex incident that is determined by multiple factors. It is now understood that people, especially youth, who commit animal cruelty are more likely to commit violent acts against humans. Now that we know this, what do we do with the people who are guilty of sadistically abusing an animal? Hensley and Tallichet, note that because animal abusers come from a variety of backgrounds, we need to identify the qualitative nature that links the motives, methods of abuse, and types of abuse. By having a better understanding of this, it will aid in the intervention and prevention of the violence that these people may commit later on in life.
It is costly, but I believe that when we find people, especially children guilty of animal abuse, some sort of therapy needs to be used. This will hopefully deter them from abusing animals and harming people later on. By not acting on this we are basically just waiting for those individuals to commit some other type of violent act. We cannot wait for those people to go to prison for their acts of violence, because of overcrowding and the appalling recidivism rates of inmates. Hopefully, with prevention we can deter those people from engaging in violent acts and going to prison.
1 comment:
60% shot... The hidden statistic behind this is how many of these animals contracted rabies? Perhaps it was a ethical choice? (Reference the "Old Yeller" principle.)
15% sexual... Your animal articles are getting more and more "dark" and depressing... But I am still a fan. Keep up the good work, mystery lady.
Post a Comment