Caregiver attributions are not just for children: Evidence for generalized low power schemas

    Authors

    V. K. Sims; M. G. Chin; M. L. Eckman; B. M. Enck;S. M. Abromaitis

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Appl. Dev. Psychol.

    Keywords

    animal cruelty; child abuse; perceived control; CHILDHOOD CRUELTY; DIFFICULT CHILDREN; PERCEIVED CONTROL; ANIMALS; RESPONSES; BEHAVIOR; ABUSE; CARE; Psychology, Developmental

    Abstract

    Two studies demonstrated that cognitive attributional styles linked to child abuse are predictive of responses during an interaction with a companion animal. Study I showed that individuals who perceive children as having greater control than themselves over negative caregiving situations (low perceived control, LPC) experienced more negative affect than high-perceived-control individuals during a brief interaction with a puppy that was perceived as "difficult." Study 2 showed that when interacting with a young cat, individuals who experienced greater negative affect during the interaction were those who perceive children as having a great deal of power over caregiving situations, regardless of their own perceived power. Both studies suggest that parent attributions may be predictive of affective responses in many caregiving situations, including those involving companion animals. Further, the link between child abuse and animal cruelty may involve a general cognitive schema that is activated by many difficult social interactions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology

    Volume

    22

    Issue/Number

    5

    Publication Date

    1-1-2001

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    527

    Last Page

    541

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000172945200005

    ISSN

    0193-3973

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