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Childhood Cruelty to Animals and Subsequent Violence against Humans

Humane Society of Shelby County, 10 McDow Drive, Columbiana, Alabama 35051, USA

Kathleen M. Heide

Ira J. Silverman

University of South Florida, Department of Criminology, Social Sciences Building Room 107, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33620-8100, USA

Recent studies have offered compelling evidence supporting a relationship between childhood cruelty to animals and later violence against humans. This study investigated whether violent offenders were significantly more likely than nonviolent offenders to have abused animals of various types during childhood. Interviews were conducted with 45 violent and 45 nonviolent offenders incarcerated in a maximum-security prison and randomly selected for this study by institutional staff members. Two data collection instruments were used. The first extracted demographic and social history from the participants. The second was used to gather information regarding cruelty to animals as categorized into four types (wild, farm, pet, and stray). Results indicated that a statistically significant relationship existed between childhood cruelty to animals and later violence against humans. Furthermore, the study found, consistent with prior research, that violent offenders were significantly more likely than nonviolent offenders to have committed acts of cruelty toward pet animals as children.

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