Personality Characteristics of Horse, Turtle, Snake, and Bird Owners

Abstract

Possibilities of matching companion animals other than dogs and cats to owners' personality types for physical and psychosocial benefits were explored. It was hypothesized that horse, turtle, snake, and bird owners would show significant differences on the personality scales of the Adjective Check List. 200 adults completed an experimenter-designed questionnaire and the check list. An analysis of variance was applied to the scale scores transformed into standardized T scores for each of the check list scales. Newman-Keuls tests showed that the horse owners were assertive and introspective but low in warmth and nurturance. Male horse owners were aggressive and dominant while female horse owners were easy-going and nonaggressive. Turtle owners were hard-working, reliable, and upwardly mobile. Snake owners were unconventional and novelty-seeking. Bird owners were socially outgoing and expressive. Like male horse owners, female bird owners were high in dominance. These demonstrated differences in owners' personality should facilitate matching people with some of the popular animal types other than dogs and cats to maximize the benefits of ownership of companion animals.