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Aggression against cats, dogs and people

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Abstract

In order to investigate the nature of animal cruelty in childhood two groups of male psychiatric patients were compared: an Animal Cruelty Group and an Assaultive Group. Most in both groups showed other signs of aggression dyscontrol in childhood. Most in both groups were subjected to parental brutality. Emotional or physical unavailability of a father figure may be a common etiologic factor in childhood cruelty to animals. This may compare with the absense of a father figure noted by several investigators in boys who set fires.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Alan R. Felthous M.D. (staff psychiatrist)

    Present address: C.F. Menninger Memorial Hospital, Topeka, Kansas

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Naval Regional Medical Center, 94627, Oakland, California

    Alan R. Felthous M.D. (staff psychiatrist)

Authors
  1. Alan R. Felthous M.D.
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Additional information

This study was supported by funds provided by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Department, for CIP 7-48-932. The opinions or assertions contained herein are those of the author and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the Naval Service at large.

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Felthous, A.R. Aggression against cats, dogs and people. Child Psych Hum Dev 10, 169–177 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01433629

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