The Difference is in the Details
Attachment and Cross-Species Parenting in the United States and India
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2162323 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Shelly Volsche (0000-0002-0549-1318, Boise State University), Rijita Mukherjee (Christ University), Madhavi Rangaswamy (0000-0002-6140-889X, Christ University) |
| Year | 2022 |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 393-408 |
| Publication date | 2022-05-04 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Anthrozoös (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0892-7936 • E-ISSN: 1753-0377 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/08927936.2021.1996026 |
| OpenAlex | W3217141006 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 8 |
| References cited | 30 |
The purpose of the current research was to explore changes in Indian attitudes and practices with pet dogs and cats and compare them with responses from the United States. Pet parenting, defined as the investment of money, emotion, and time in companion animals, is a form of alloparental care (care given by someone other than the offspring's biological parents). Pet parenting appears to emerge in cultures that (1) demonstrate high rates of urbanization, (2) have declining total fertility rates (average births per woman), and (3) support life orientations beyond reproduction (collectively called the second demographic transition). A total of 1,417 respondents (US, n = 991; India, n = 426) completed online surveys (one in each country) to compare demographic profiles, attachment (as measured by the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale [LAPS]), and companion animal caretaking behaviors in each culture. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare Indian and United States populations on the LAPS and caretaking behaviors (titled CARES in our study). Our findings document the emergence of pet parenting in India with many similarities to the United States. However, cultural variations in how these societies engage with nonhuman animals result in nuanced differences. For example, when reporting terms used to refer to themselves (e.g., Mom/Dad, friend, owner) and their companion animals (e.g., kids, pet, animal), United States respondents were more likely to code switch to less familial terms when speaking to coworkers and strangers. Additionally, Indian respondents reported higher agreement with all three LAPS scales, and they also reported higher frequency of behaviors related to Affective Responsiveness and General Care. Both cultures reported a moderately high frequency of Training and Play, with the United States respondents reporting slightly more training than Indians. These differences suggest that philosophical disparities exist between the United States and India, shaping the practice of pet parenting. We suggest continued, cross-cultural investigation of changing norms surrounding companion animals and the emergence of pet parenting
Animal welfare · Animal-assisted therapy · Biology · Companion animal · Developmental psychology · Pet therapy · Sociology · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Geographies of human-animal interactions · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Psychology · Demography · Ecology · Social Psychology
Parental status influences human-to-pet caregiving behaviors, attachment, and attitudes in a Finnish sample
Investigating influences on pet attachment in France
Dogs, Motherhood, and Reproductive Choices
The Brief Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale
The Deep Affectional Bond Between Humans and Their Animal Companions
Pet Attachment Mediating the Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Loneliness Among Portuguese Women
Investigating Factors Associated With Stress in Guardians of Dogs Under 12 Months of Age
Sex and Parental Status Impacts Human-to-Pet Attachment and Caregiving Attitudes and Behaviors in a Japanese Sample
Biophilia
The second demographic transition
Indian family systems, collectivistic society and psychotherapy
Counting the cost of vulture decline—An appraisal of the human health and other benefits of vultures in India
Gender Differences in Human–Animal Interactions
Second demographic transition or aspirations in transition
Health Correlates of Compatibility and Attachment in Human-Companion Animal Relationships
An ethological approach to personality development
A theory of human motivation
Attachment styles among young adults
Methodology for Understanding Indian Culture
Furry families
Psychometric Properties of the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale
Psychometric Evaluation of the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (Laps)
They Make Me Not Wanna Have a Child
Negotiated Bonds
| Citations per year | 2.67 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2023 - 2026 (4) |
| Highly cited | No |