Cycle of Violence
What is the Cycle of Violence? Children learn from adult role models and the society they live in. A home of violence, abuse, or neglect produces children who may pass these behaviors on to the next generation, and so on.
Animals, especially pets, get caught up in this cycle of family violence - Women and children are sometimes intimidated into silence about sexual or other abuses through threats made to a favorite pet. Pets are sometimes hurt or killed to punish children for something they have done. Abused children may act out aggression and frustration on a pet they perceive as even more vulnerable than themselves. Physically or sexually abused children may kill their pets rather than have them hurt by the adult abuser in the home.
In most cases, the animal is the last victim in a chain of abuse that filters down from the strongest family member to the weakest. How Does Animal Abuse Affect You? Violence towards animals springs from the same causes as violence towards humans. No longer can cruelty to animals be passed off as just a phase in childhood or with a "boys will be boys" attitude.
Research indicates -
Young people who are cruel to animals are more likely to become aggressive toward humans as they develop.
Violent, imprisoned offenders have usually abused animals during their childhood.
Children raised with intense coercion may imitate this behavior with animals and people.
Children learn cruel behaviors from adults and may reenact them on animals.
Children abuse animals to release the aggression they feel toward abusive adults or because of psychological trauma.
Does Cruelty to Animals Lead to Cruelty to People? Research shows a strong correlation between substantial animal abuse in childhood and later personal violence to humans. This research should alert parents, societal leaders, prosecutors, and judges to the importance of animal cruelty as a potential indicator of disturbed family relationships and future aggressive behavior towards humans.
In a study of men imprisoned for violent crimes versus a group of non-incarcerated nonviolent individuals, 25% of the violent criminals reported "substantial cruelty" towards animals in their childhood, while none of the non-incarcerated men reported a history of animal cruelty.
In a similar study of women offenders, 36% reported a history of animal abuse compared to none of the non-abused women.
In a study of 57 families being treated for incidents of child abuse, 88% also abused animals.
In two-thirds of the cases, it was the abusive parent who had killed or injured the animals to control a child. In one-third, the children had abused the animals, using them as scapegoats for their anger.
In a study using a sample of 64 men, 48% of convicted rapists and 30% of convicted child molesters admitted to cruelty to animals during their childhood or adolescence.
What Can You Do?
Report animal and child abuse to your humane society or child welfare agency.
Encourage judges, animal control officers, doctors, social workers, teachers, and ministers to become familiarized with The Link between cruelty to animals and family violence.
Practice positive parenting styles that do not rely on corporal punishment. To learn about these methods contact your mental health center, social service agency, or the United Way.
Question the glorification of violence in sports, the media, and entertainment. Nonviolent problem-solving skills and self-control must be valued by society to be valued by children.
If animal or child abuse was part of your personal history, you may need to seek professional counseling to fully understand the effect these acts have had on you.
Vote on issues relevant to education, social service delivery, and the allocation of funds toward improving the quality of life for people and animals in your community and country.
Support organizations that protect animals and children by contributing time or money.
