خشونت با حیوانات اهلی توسط کودکان در معرض خشونت خانگی

Objective The first objective of this study was to determine if children exposed to domestic violence were significantly more likely to be cruel to animals than children not exposed to violence. The second was to determine if there were significant age and gender differences between children who were and were not cruel to animals. Method A community sample of 47 mothers with two children and a history of domestic violence were compared to a matched sample of 45 mothers with two children who did not have such a history. Results Children exposed to domestic violence were significantly more likely to have been cruel to animals than children not exposed to violence. The age and gender of children who were cruel to animals did not differ from children who were not cruel to animals. However, exposed children cruel to animals were significantly older than non-exposed children cruel to animals. Conclusion Animal cruelty by children is correlated with exposure to domestic violence.

However disturbing, it is not difficult to visualize a link between family violence and animal cruelty. A violent father who lashes out at his wife, his children, and the family pet is conceivable. It is more difficult to consider animal cruelty carried out by children living in violent homes, but research supports this contention as well (Ascione, 1998; DeViney, Dickert, & Lockwood, 1983). An indirect, but equally important finding in the literature is that many children who experience or are exposed to family violence do not become cruel to animals. It is unclear why some children emulate the violence they are exposed to and others do not. The purpose of this study was to determine if a community sample of children exposed to domestic violence were more likely to be cruel to animals than children who were not exposed to family violence. The influences of age and gender on animal cruelty were also investigated.

The findings of the present study suggest exposure to domestic violence is correlated with animal cruelty by children. Future research with larger samples and more detailed information about behavior toward animals, using the Boat (1999) Inventory or even a simple checklist, are needed to learn more about this link. The lessons that a violent home may teach children about power, control, and empathy should be considered in future research. As noted by Lockwood (1996) “… the way we treat our animals is mirrored in the way we treat one another” (p. 1). Indeed, to confront violence against humans and animals alike, research must continue to focus on the classrooms within which the lessons of violence are taught, of which the home may be the most influential.