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Psychology

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Acceptability of Electrical Stunning and Post-Cut Stunning Among Muslim Communities: A Possible Dialogue
As Muslim populations in Europe increase, so too does friction between European regulations for humane slaughter (which require stunning) and traditional methods of Jewish and Muslim slaughter, which specifically prohibit animals from sustaining injury prior to cutting of the neck. Though Halal and Kosher slaughter are exempt from the same rules on stunning, as populations increase, the pressure for updating traditional practices builds. Using Reggio Emilia in Italy (with a Muslim population of 10.1%) as a case study, researchers gathered together various stakeholders in the Muslim community for an open dialogue on whether or not methods of stunning could be employed during slaughter in a way that still met with ritual requirements. Slaughter demonstrations were held and those in attendance of these demonstrations showed interest in the proposals and further dialogue is ongoing. READ MORE

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Explaining Dehumanization Among Children: The Interspecies Model of Prejudice
This article describes two studies of children that explore the connection between assumptions of human superiority to animals and racism. White Canadian 6-10 year olds attributed more "uniquely human" characteristics to photos of white children than to photos of black children, and perceived the black children as more similar to animals. Parents' beliefs in human superiority strongly predicted children's racism. However, watching a video about similarities between humans and animals moderated children's attitudes towards humans and animals. READ MORE

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Jealousy in Dogs
This study tested whether dogs displayed jealous behaviors when their human companions attended to three different objects, including a stuffed dog. The dogs did display more aggression towards the stuffed dog than towards other objects, and more actively tried to divert their human's attention to themselves. This suggests that dogs experience jealousy, and that previous assumptions about the origin and nature of human jealousy may be inaccurate. READ MORE

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Social Housing Improves Dairy Calves’ Performance in Two Cognitive Tests
In this study, newborn Holstein calves were separated from their mothers shortly after birth and isolated in a pen for four days. Half of the calves continued in solitary housing, while the other half shared a pen with another calf. Calves were tested for ability to change tactics when a situation changed at four weeks, and to habituate to a new situation at seven weeks. Solitary-housed calves were slower to adjust to a change in the first test, and never got acclimated to a new object in the second test, suggesting that housing without social contact negatively impacted their cognitive development. READ MORE

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Yoruba Ethico-cultural Perspectives and Understanding of Animal Rights
This literature review argues that non-Western cultural perspectives of animals should be incorporated into global concepts of animal ethics. Using Nigerian Yoruban culture as a case study, the authors explore Yoruban idioms, taboos, customs, spiritual beliefs, and rituals that reference animals. While concluding that Yorubans cannot be classified as either welfarist or abolitionist, they conclude that "superstitious relational attitudes" may constitute a unique and significant contribution to animal ethics discourse. READ MORE

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Characteristics of 24 Cases of Animal Hoarding in Spain
This study presents the details of 24 cases of animal hoarding in Spain in which a single humane society had intervened. Most hoarders were over 40, financially poor or borderline, and lived alone. Men and women were equally represented. Three times as many dogs as cats were hoarded, some hoarders kept both dogs and cats, and more men than women hoarded only dogs. Most animals were acquired as strays or from uncontrolled breeding. In 10 cases, the hoarder did not live with the animals. READ MORE
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