Researchers of a new study found that people tend to have more empathy for battered dogs - full grown or puppies, than battered human adults.
It comes as no surprised that people have more sympathy for animals than humans. However, in the battle between species and ages, researchers of a new study found that age triumphs over species when it comes to receiving empathy from humans.
"Contrary to popular thinking, we are not necessarily more disturbed by animal rather than human suffering," said Jack Levin, the Irving and Betty Brudnick Professor of Sociology and Criminology at Northeastern University in a press release. "Our results indicate a much more complex situation with respect to the age and species of victims, with age being the more important component."
Researchers found that puppies and full grown dogs subjected to violence receive more empathy than battered human adults. According to the study findings, the reason behind this is that human adults are perceived to be capable enough to protect themselves while full grown dogs are seen as large puppies.
For the study, researchers conducted a survey on 240 men and women, most of whom were white and between the ages of 18-25. They were randomly given news articles to read about the beating of a one-year-old child, an adult in his thirties, a puppy, or a 6-year-old dog. All information provided in the news pieces was identical except for the victim's identity.
After reading the articles, participants were asked to rate the level of empathy they felt toward the victim of the news article.
"We were surprised by the interaction of age and species," Levin said. "Age seems to trump species, when it comes to eliciting empathy. In addition, it appears that adult humans are viewed as capable of protecting themselves while full grown dogs are just seen as larger puppies."
While the study was conducted on dogs and humans, researchers speculate that the results hold true for cats and humans too.
