Abstract
The chapter reviews how, as people change their behaviour towards animals, they inevitably change their behaviour towards themselves, their environment and other people around them. It reviews how working with an animal can motivate a human behaviour change. Focusing on the needs of the animal can allow humans to assess their own need for change in a less confrontational way than direct coaching. It explores the way people seem to be more prepared to explore change within themselves in order to benefit the animal, making this type of learning more impactful and more sustainable. The chapter will include the journey through mindfulness, personal awareness, labelling, patience, shaping behaviour, attempting to think with the brain of another species, and the importance of timing in all communication.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
American Veterinary Medical Association. (2021). Human animal bond. https://www.avma.org/one-health/human-animal-bond
Beck, A. M., & Meyers, N. M. (1996). Health enhancement and companion animal ownership. Annual Review of Public Health, 17, 247–257.
Bekoff, M. (2007). The emotional lives of animals: A leading scientist explores animal joy, sorrow, and empathy and why they matter. New World Library.
Daston, L., & Mitman, G. (2005). Thinking with animals, new perspectives on anthropomorphism. Columbia University Press.
Dehaene, S. (2020). How we learn: The new science of education and the brain. Penguin Books.
Friedmann, E., Katcher, A. H., Lynch, J. J., & Thomas, S. A. (1980). Animal companions and one year survival of patients after discharge from a coronary care unit. Public Health Reports, 95, 307–312.
Gilhus, I. S. (2006). Animals, gods and humans: Changing attitudes to animals in Greek, Roman and early Christian ideas. Routledge.
Herzog, H. (2010). Some we love, some we hate, Some we eat: Why it’s so difficult to talk about animals. Harper Collins.
Janssens, L., Giemsch, L., Schmitz, R., Street, M., Van Dongen, S., & Crombé, P. (2018). A new look at an old dog: Bonn-Oberkassel reconsidered. Journal of Archaeological Science, 92, 126–138.
Lieberman, M. (2013). Social: Why our brains are wired to connect. Oxford University Press.
Monsen, R. B. (2001). Children and pets. Journal of Paediatric Nursing, 16(3), 197–198. https://doi.org/10.1053/jpdn.2001.25268
Peruzzetto, A., Metzger, F. D., & Dirven, L. (Eds.). (2013). Animals, gods and men from east to west: Papers on archaeology and history in honour of Roberta Venco Ricciardi. BAR International Series.
Plotkin, B. (2003). Soulcraft: Crossing into the mysteries of nature and the psyche. New World Library.
Singer, P. (1975). Animal liberation: A new ethics for the treatment of our animals. New York Review.
Spencer, J. (2020). ‘I Was An Ass’: Writing about animals in the age of revolution. Oxford University Press.
Vanfleet, R., & Faa-thompson, T. (2017). Assisted play therapy. Professional Resource Exchange Inc.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Hart, B. (2022). Animals as Catalysts for Learning, Personal Growth and Enlightenment. In: Cutting, R., Passy, R. (eds) Contemporary Approaches to Outdoor Learning. Palgrave Studies in Alternative Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85095-1_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85095-1_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-85094-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-85095-1
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)