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By Catherine E. Amiot, Brock Bastian

Category Journal Articles

Interactions with animals are pervasive in human life, a fact that is reflected in the burgeoning field of human-animal relations research. The goal of the current research was to examine the psychology of our social connection with other animals, by specifically developing a measure of solidarity with animals. In 8 studies using correlational, experimental, and longitudinal designs, solidarity with animals predicted more positive attitudes and behaviors toward animals, over and above existing scales of identification, and even when this implied a loss of resources and privileges for humans relative to animals. Solidarity with animals also displayed predicted relationships with relevant variables (anthropomorphism, empathy). Pet owners and vegetarians displayed higher levels of solidarity with animals. Correlational and experimental evidence confirmed that human-animal similarity heightens solidarity with animals. Our findings provide a useful measure that can facilitate important insights into the nature of our relationships with animals.


Marcy Wilhelm-South

Purdue University

Date 2017
Publication Title PLoS One
Volume 12
Issue 1
Pages 26
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0168184
Language English
Additional Language English
Cite this work

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

  1. Animal behavior
  2. Animal cognition
  3. Animal roles
  4. Animal welfare
  5. Behavior and behavior mechanisms
  6. Dogs
  7. Gender differences
  8. Meat.
  9. open access
  10. peer-reviewed
  11. Social Desirability
  1. open access
  2. peer-reviewed