Reading between the whines: human perceptions and beliefs about animal emotions predict how people would intervene with cats and dogs showing challenging behaviors

Previous research has shown that differences in people’s experiences with and beliefs about animals, in addition to contextual factors, influence how they perceive pet emotions, which is associated with animal welfare. The present study examined whether behavioral intensity, beliefs about animal emotions, experience with animals, and perceived emotion predict how a person would intervene when cats and dogs exhibit defensive behaviors. A U.S. sample (N = 194) completed vignette-based tasks manipulating species (dog vs. cat) and behavioral intensity (low vs. high). Participants rated perceived animal fear and anger and indicated their likelihood of utilizing each of six intervention strategies. Measures of beliefs about animal emotions and animal-related experience were also collected. High-intensity behaviors increased both perceived emotional intensity and the likelihood of intervention. Fear was attributed more than anger overall, and perceptions of anger increased with behavioral intensity. Perceived fear predicted lower-impact responses (e.g., relocation). Perceived anger, however, predicted higher-impact interventions (e.g., relinquishment and spanking). Beliefs about the moral relevance of animal emotions predicted a reduced likelihood of using the same disruptive or aversive interventions. These findings extend prior research by showing that emotional perceptions and participant characteristics shape responses to companion animal behavior, with implications for animal welfare and human, animal relationships.