Introduction
Animals have always been people’s companions and have played various roles. They used to protect dwellings, work in fields, and provide people with food. As society evolved, views on animals altered due to the increased significance of humanistic values.
Nowadays, there are numerous attempts to protect them and ensure their well-being. Pets such as dogs or cats are often viewed as part of families and enjoy care and love. For this reason, animal cruelty is viewed as a serious offense, signaling a problem that should be addressed. The existing body of research evidence suggests that animal abuse might be a predictor of human violence. Individuals committing this type of offense have higher risks of starting to hurt other people and showing dangerous behaviors.
Animal Cruelty
Contemporary society views animal cruelty as one of the critical social issues. The term describes a set of harmful behaviors aimed at animals, starting with unintentional neglect, injuries, and torture and ending with malicious killing. A radical change in attitude towards the phenomenon was observed in the 18th century when it became one of the threatening signs associated with the growth of violent behaviors in society (Mota-Rojas et al. 977).
Today, most civilized countries view animal cruelty as a crime that should be provided with an appropriate punishment. However, which is more important, modern studies show a direct correlation between animal abuse and interpersonal violence (Mota-Rojas et al. 977). It means there is a critical need to research this relationship to understand the negative impacts of animal abuse on society.
Associated Issues
The link between animal cruelty and human violence can be investigated in terms of the unique individuals’ peculiarities. For instance, abusive behaviors towards animals might emerge in childhood because of various reasons. Researchers associate it with problems in the family, abusive patterns peculiar to one of the parents, lack of empathy, poor socioemotional development, or mental health issues (Mota-Rojas et al. 977).
In such a way, animal abuse might emerge as a result of human violence and evolve into more serious problems. Pyromania, aggressive behaviors, or violent inclinations are always associated with animal cruelty discovered during childhood (Mota-Rojas et al. 977). For this reason, the emergence and development of wrong behavioral patterns toward animals in individuals are an essential social concern, as they can create the basis for numerous undesired outcomes.
Animal Cruelty and Risks of Human Violence
In such a way, there is a risk that people who are cruel to animals might start committing more severe crimes. Statistics show that around 16% of offenders who started abusing animals graduated to violent crimes aimed at human beings. Furthermore, companion animals are often abused by individuals who have negative attitudes toward their owners (Robinson and Clausen).
It means that an offender might have hidden desires to hurt another person, and in numerous cases, these intentions might be realized. Moreover, the study conducted among criminals who committed school massacres showed that 43% of them tortured or injured animals (Animal Legal Defense Fund). It means there is credible evidence showing that animal cruelty and human violence might be interconnected in numerous cases, and there is a high risk of the emergence of severe crimes.
Domestic Violence
Furthermore, animal cruelty can be a factor indicating problems in the family. Thus, many companion animals have the status of family members, meaning they are integral parts of the family and are treated similarly to others. However, it means that in problematic families characterized by abusive or aggressive behaviors, animals might be subjected to unkind conditions, neglect, and emotional and physical abuse (Jegatheesan et al. 3116).
For this reason, the existing research admits the link between animal cruelty and domestic violence (Jegatheesan et al. 3116). People who torture or hurt animals more often demonstrate aggressive behaviors towards their family members and children. Contrariwise, abusers in the family frequently hurt companion pets to manipulate other family members, speculate on specific issues, and gain control (Robinson and Clausen). That is why cases of maltreatment and neglect should be viewed as threatening signs that should be considered.
Reverse Causality
Furthermore, speaking about animal cruelty, it is vital to admit the existence of reverse causality. In more than 50% of cases, offenders who start hurting human beings progress to torturing or killing animals (Robinson and Clausen). Researchers admit several factors explaining the existence of this correlation.
First, they require some victims to release their aggression and be satisfied. Second, abusers enjoy the feeling of power and their victims’ helplessness, meaning that animals become the best choice for them. Finally, they acquire risky habits that might evolve and require new maltreatment and neglect cases (Animal Legal Defense Fund). In such a way, criminals, offenders, or abusers are likely to harm pets and companion animals. It can help potential victims who might consider this behavioral trait and avoid close contact with a person who has these behavioral patterns.
Animal Cruelty as a Marker
Finally, animal cruelty can be considered an important indicator of people’s mental health, past experiences, and the existence of abusive behaviors. For instance, animal neglect or maltreatment is a marker of other potential sinister deviations or inclinations peculiar to an individual (Jegatheesan et al. 3116). First, it evidences extremely high aggression levels and the inability to control emotions due to past trauma. Second, the treatment of animals is associated with the treatment of fellow humans (Jegatheesan et al. 3116).
However, the law implies severe punishment for hurting human beings compared to the same actions aimed at animals. As a result, torturing pets can be considered a specific sublimation or substation because of the fear of punishment for hurting individuals (Robinson and Clausen). Under these conditions, animal cruelty is a marker of serious issues that cannot be disregarded.
Conclusion
Altogether, abusive behaviors and causing injuries to animals are serious social issues. It contradicts the existing values and humanistic ideas. At the same time, the current research shows a correlation between animal cruelty and human violence. Individuals who do not respect and hurt pets often become offenders and commit more serious crimes. Furthermore, animal abuse is associated with domestic violence and neglect.
Investigators also show that such behavioral patterns might indicate severe issues and experiences and evidence of hidden aggressive inclinations. For this reason, it is essential to devote much attention to analyzing the problem. The timely detection of problematic behavioral patterns might help to avoid further problems in the future, address the situation, and provide the necessary help and support.
Works Cited
Animal Legal Defense Fund. “The Link Between Cruelty to Animals and Violence Toward Humans.” ALDF, Web.
Jegatheesan, Brinda, et al. “Understanding the Link between Animal Cruelty and Family Violence: The Bioecological Systems Model.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 17, no. 9, 2020, p. 3116. Web.
Mota-Rojas, Daniel, et al. “Animal Abuse as an Indicator of Domestic Violence: One Health, One Welfare Approach.” Animals, vol. 12, no. 8, 2022, p. 977. Web.
Robinson, Charlie, and Victoria Clausen. “The Link Between Animal Cruelty and Human Violence.” LEB, Web.