How companion animals form a part of society
Pet ownership can often enhance feelings of trust among strangers.
Companion animals are a core part of family life in the US, with 90 million households having at least one pet.
Many of us view pets as beloved family members who provide non-judgmental 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.
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.
Assistance dogs can also facilitate these interactions. One study found that individuals using a wheelchair were more likely to be approached when their assistance animal was present. The presence of an animal can also enhance perceptions of trustworthiness and responsibility, which in turn fosters positive social interactions.
Researchers found that people were more likely to help a stranger with a dog than one without a dog. For children, interacting with a pet can also provide an additional opportunity to practice positive social interactions and develop empathy and compassion.
Recent research indicates that 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 also found that teenagers with high levels of attachment to their pets were likely to have higher levels of social skills and empathy toward others than those without such attachments.
In spite of it, during the Covid pandemic dog owners were more likely than those without dogs to go for regular walks outdoors, providing an opportunity for community engagement during a period of extreme social isolation.
The presence of an animal has even been found to increase positive social interactions in the workplace.
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