Linking Animal Cruelty and Family Violence
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Linking Animal Cruelty and Family Violence By Lisa Anne Zilney

Chapter :  Introduction
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are explored on all indices, and predictors of both partner abuse and child abuse are examined, both inclusive and exclusive of life course variables. Predictors of partner victimization are also elaborated. Chapter 5, Masculinities and Nonhumans, uses the masculinities hypothesis to explore the development of masculinity, and the role of negative attitudes in predicting family violence. Finally, Chapter 6, Discussion and Implications, explores limitations of this work, suggests avenues for future research, and examines policy implications of considering animal abuse as an additional form of family violence. The use of criminological and environmental sociological literature as foundations will provide the theoretical flexibility to examine selected aspects of violence against human and nonhumans. Our treatment of the 'other' can be quite telling, as aptly stated by Mohandas Gandhi: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the ways its animals are treated.”

Endnotes

1 While some scholars (Kappeler 1995) suggest that use of the term 'nonhuman' or 'humans and other animals' serves to leave a hierarchy that promotes the dichotomy between species intact, the terms 'nonhumans' and 'animals' will be used interchangeably throughout this research to refer to animals who are indeed nonhuman. While the comparison to labeling women 'nonmen' is understood, I believe that the semantic debate would involve unnecessary politicization of a somewhat tangential concern at this historic juncture.
2 The terms 'violence against animals,' 'animal abuse' and 'animal cruelty' are used interchangeably throughout this work. Historically, 'cruelty' was used to define those acts committed against nonhumans deemed illegal through legislation. Recently, the term 'abuse' was adopted by animal protection organizations to symbolize the physical, sexual, and emotional/psychological mistreatment of animals.