Chapter 2 - Animal-Assisted Interventions in Historical Perspective

Abstract

Modern ideas concerning the salutary benefits of human–animal interaction (HAI) have ancient historical roots. In archaic animistic and shamanistic belief systems, animal “spirits” are thought to mediate between the material and spiritual realms, and their intercession is critical in both causing and relieving sickness and disease. In the ancient world, associations between particular animals, such as dogs and snakes, and various gods of healing became more formalized, and even led to early examples of animal-assisted therapeutic intervention. Under medieval Christianity, these pagan links between animals and healing were largely suppressed. However, during the Early Modern period, the notion that animals could serve a positive socializing influence on children and the mentally ill brought HAI back into favor, at least until the end of the 19th century and the advent of scientific medicine. The recent resurgence of interest in these phenomena dates from the 1960s and 1970s, and has prompted a wave of scientific research on the mental and physical health benefits of HAI and the possible underlying mechanisms responsible for its effects.