Empathic response to animal suffering: Societal versus family influence

Attitudes to animals vary according to social conditions, current philosoph ies and personal experience. This paper reports the findings from two items which were part of a 21-item questionnaire investigating attitudes to non- pet animals. Participants were drawn equally from three consecutive and rel ated generations; students, parents and grandparents. They were asked how t hey would respond to the plight of a mouse or bird, when each was attacked by a cat. Responses were associated with cat, but not dog, ownership. There were generational differences in participants' reactions to the two situat ions, and in the reasons given for their choice of action. The findings sug gest that changing ideologies and social conditions have a greater impact o n attitudes than does transmission of family values. (C) 2000 International Society for Anthrozoology.