ANALYSIS OF THE BENEFITS OF LIVING WITH PETS IN TERMS OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This study aims to elucidate the human approach to development, in particular from the Human Scale Development theory, and to investigate the positive effects arising from the relationship between humans and animals in order to combine them with human development. The theory of Human Scale Development presented itself as a paradigm shift by advocating the protagonism of the human being during the development process. The natural and intuitive bond formed between people and their pets started to intrigue researchers around the world, giving rise to a series of scientific evidence that point to beneficial effects of this relationship. Pets have been found to have the ability to contribute in many ways to the well-being of their guardians. This article is part of the dissertation entitled “The interfaces of the relationship between human beings and pets from the perspective of human development”, presented to the Postgraduate Program in Local Development at Universidade Católica Dom Bosco. The research has a qualitative approach, which employs the inductive method and, as to the objectives, it is an exploratory research combined with a literature review and document analysis. In conclusion, the bond between humans and pets can represent a human development factor.