ABSTRACT Dogs are a significant part of people's lives, serving as companions, family members, and sources of support, which makes understanding factors that influence human interaction with them important. In the current research, we bridge the psychology of gender and the science of human–animal interactions; in doing so, we offer novel conclusions about how gender norms shape our possible intentions and interactions with dogs. Across three studies (n total = 1,175), we examined the relationship between dominance theory (i.e., the belief that people must become the “pack leader”), hegemonic masculinity (i.e., the idealized version of manhood), and gender typicality threats (i.e., threat to gender performance). We found that most people reported establishing dominance over dogs as a confrontational process (Study 1a). Though beliefs in hegemonic masculinity predicted the endorsement of aversive methods, the relationship between dominance theory and the use of aversive methods was partially mediated by beliefs in hegemonic masculinity (Study 1b). In a second experiment (Study 2), we found that manipulating information about dominance theory did not increase participants’ endorsement of aversive methods; however, the relationship between dominance theory and the use of aversive methods was still partially mediated by hegemonic masculinity. Finally, we experimentally manipulated gender typicality threat with false feedback and found that regardless of participant gender, gender threat increased the endorsement of aversive methods (Study 3). We discuss the implications for the psychology of gender and human–canine interactions.

ABSTRACT An increasing number of children in the United States are growing up in multispecies families, a contemporary family structure where humans and companion animals form close bonds and share daily life, further fulfilling children’s attachment needs, providing social support, and contributing to psychosocial wellbeing. A burgeoning body of work highlights the important role of companion animals in shaping developmental outcomes across diverse domains. Few studies examine how young children in multispecies families perceive and construct their relationships in the context of growing cultural sentimentalization of pets. Using interview and drawing methods, we explored children’s perspectives on their relationships with their companion animals. We recruited 24 parent–child dyads in the US (children aged 3–7 years). We interviewed parents, asked children to draw and describe their favorite memories with their pets, and interviewed children about their relationships with companion animals. Our analyses revealed three themes: children constructed companion animals as family members, integrated them into daily activities, and attributed subjectivity to them. Our findings highlight how children navigate complex relationships with animals, providing implications for child development, empathy, and the human–animal bond within multispecies families.

ABSTRACT Across millennia and geographies, humans and dogs have lived, worked, and played together. While play between dogs and humans may be a hallmark of the dog–human bond, empirical research on dog–human play is relatively limited. This scoping review examined academic research on dog–human play, mapping (1) theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of dog–human play; (2) how play is defined by researchers; and (3) the primary aims of research studies focused on play. Four databases were searched: Web of Science (via OVID), Psych Info, Agricultural Sciences, and Family and Society Studies. One hundred and nine articles describing dog–human play were identified, with 28 articles primarily focusing on the dog–human play encounter. Most research was localized within European and American contexts to focus on companion or “pet” dogs, and most studies were rooted in scientific disciplines, such as ethology and comparative psychology. Less than half of the identified articles provided a definition of dog–human play, and the most common definitions focused on relational components of play and/or on specific motor activity involved within the play encounter. Almost all articles provided an example of play, which primarily focused on social object play (e.g., fetch, tug). Researchers highlighted specific functions of dog–human play behaviors or focused more generally on implications of the play relationship. This scoping review identifies a need for more diverse cultural, theoretical, and methodological contributions to the landscape of dog–human play and reiterates concerns that definitional ambiguity may devalue the important work of play research. Ultimately, dog–human play tends to center the “human” within the dyad and would benefit from more diverse considerations around what it means to play with our canine companions.

ABSTRACT Animals and humans form complex, deep, and meaningful relationships. Throughout history, people have commemorated animals they were close to through various mortuary practices. But what about when humans die before their companion animal? Based on an analysis of Canadian obituaries from 1990 to 2024, this paper explores the ways that people describe human–animal relationships. The study sought to discover when animals began appearing in obituaries, the ways that they are featured in these texts, and if/how descriptions of human–animal bonds have changed over time. Though hardly appearing before the 2000s, the last 20 years have seen a gradual rise in obituaries that mention connections between the deceased and animals. The placement of animals across various sections of the obituary, and the array of ways in which they are described, reflect different understandings of how people are connected to other-than-human animals. This paper first argues that the simple inclusion of animals in obituaries speaks to the importance that people place on relationships with animals. The growing frequency of such references over time also suggests a gradual transformation in how people memorialize loved ones. Finally, this paper suggests that the changes observed in obituaries reveal a growing outlook of kinship with other-than-human animals.

ABSTRACT This article examines the relationship between dietary identity (vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore), ideological variables (authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, and system justification), and prejudice toward minority groups. The sample, collected in Chile, consisted of 596 participants (141 vegans, 101 vegetarians, and 354 omnivores), including 419 women (70.3%) and 177 men (29.7%). The results indicate that authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, and system justification were less prevalent among vegans. Likewise, vegans exhibited a greater appreciation for minority groups and expressed lower levels of prejudice toward them. Finally, perceived threat toward vegans was examined alongside ideological orientations in relation to carnism. Results showed that perceived threat was associated with higher levels of carnism and that ideological orientations were associated with both perceived threat and carnism. By linking dietary identity to ideological orientations and intergroup attitudes, this study contributes to understanding the moral and political dimensions of veganism in Chile, a context where the ideological roots of dietary choices and their connection to prejudice have received little empirical attention.

ABSTRACT Emotional Support Animals (ESAs), animals that provide emotional support to individuals with disabilities without specialized training, have attracted attention, with sightings in unexpected spaces with no legal access rights. With the help of two multi-method studies, this research examines factors influencing onlooker trust (or lack thereof) toward ESA owners when seen with their ESAs in such spaces. Trust refers to believing in the credibility of an ESA owner regarding the statement or portrayal of the truth about the animal being an ESA. Study 1, a survey involving 152 online panel participants, focused on individual traits and demonstrated that (1) increasing self-efficacy and (2) decreasing nature-relatedness of the onlooker was associated with decreasing trust toward the ESA owner when seen with an ESA in a public space. Participants rated animals perceived as pets (e.g., dogs) as significantly more appropriate as ESAs than animals perceived as pests (e.g., tarantulas). Additionally, respondents felt they would be significantly less comfortable seeing ESAs in a nature-distal (vs. nature-proximal) public space. Study 2, involving 296 online panel participants, focused on contextual variables and showed that in nature-distal spaces, participants were significantly more likely to trust ESA owners of animals who were more commonly viewed as pets than ESA owners of animals who are typically perceived as pests. In nature-proximal spaces, participants tended to trust ESA owners equally regardless of the ESA species. Theoretical contributions, along with study implications related to ESA-related information sessions and certification processes, are discussed.

ABSTRACT Down syndrome (DS) is a common genetic condition, and non-pharmacological interventions are increasingly utilized to address associated developmental and health-related challenges. Among these, animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) have gained recognition for their therapeutic potential across various populations; however, a focused synthesis of their application within the DS population has been lacking. This scoping review aimed to characterize the key features of AAIs and to document the methodological characteristics of existing research involving individuals with DS. A systematic search of five databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Scopus) was conducted in August 2024, yielding 27 eligible peer-reviewed articles. The findings revealed that most studies involved children and adolescents, with limited inclusion of adult participants. Methodological diversity was not seen, including a lack of randomized controlled trials, longitudinal designs, and incorporation of caregiver or participant perspectives. Additionally, there was considerable variability in intervention parameters and a lack of standardized, evidence-based guidelines for implementation. These findings underscore the need to broaden methodological approaches and incorporate a lifespan perspective to better inform best practices in the use of AAIs for individuals with Down syndrome.

ABSTRACT Modern zoos have multiple goals, such as conservation, education, and entertainment, which can resonate with visitors’ experiences. Our study aimed to understand how these goals are reflected in families’ real-time conversations at Buin Zoo in Chile. Ten families, each consisting of at least one adult and one child (aged between 6 and 10 years) participated in the study. They visited Buin Zoo and recorded their visit using a point-of-view chested mounted camera. The videos were transcribed and analyzed qualitatively in three pre-established categories: entertainment, conservation, and education. An additional category emerged during the analysis: ethical questions and negative judgments. Entertainment talk occurred in all families and dominated interaction. Educational conversations, although less frequent, also appeared in all ten families, arising via three channels: staff mediation, exhibit signage, and parental scaffolding. Explicit conservation talk was rare (two families). Ethical questions or negative judgments about zoos were discussed in half of the participating families. Our analysis shows that the goals of zoos were reflected unevenly in family conversations, revealing visitor nuances that surveys or interviews alone cannot capture. Based on these results, we discuss practical implications for exhibit design and interpretation to amplify education and conservation goals while maintaining entertainment.