Winning friends and influencing people

Many of us view pets as beloved family members who provide nonjudgmental emotional support and companionship during times of stress.

That’s not all. Research shows our pets can also strengthen our relationships and trust with other people. In addition, pets contribute positively to trust in our broader social communities.

Companion animals as social facilitators

As many of us know, animals provide an avenue for approaching another person socially, serving as a conversational starting point for connection.

Pet ownership alone could be a source of shared interest and knowledge, even among people who may not have similar interests otherwise.

Simply walking down the street with a dog can lead to significantly more social interactions than walking without a dog.

Assistance dogs can also facilitate these interactions.

One study found people in a wheelchair were more likely to be approached when their assistance animal was present.

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The presence of an animal can also enhance perceptions of trustworthiness and responsibility, which in turn fosters positive social interactions.

Researchers found people were more likely to help a stranger with a dog than one without a dog, suggesting the presence of an animal conferred perceptions of trust.

For children, interacting with a pet can provide an additional opportunity to practice positive social interactions and develop empathy and compassion.

Recent research indicates living with dogs is associated with better social and emotional skills for children.

In our own research at the Tufts Pets and Well-Being Lab, we found teenagers with high levels of attachment to their pets were likely to have better social skills and empathy than those without such attachments.

Pets and social capital

Pets have been shown to foster social capital in communities. Social capital is a concept that encompasses the broader community and neighbourhood networks of social relationships, and the degree to which the community has a culture of helping others.

The trust inherent in these connections can lead to better health and well-being.

They can contribute to social capital by strengthening social trust within communities.

Neighbours may rely on one another to assist with animal care, which builds reciprocal trust.