anthrozoology.org - Research in Human-Animal Interaction

New Anthrozoology LinkedIn group launched.

anthrozoology — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:03:36 +1100

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A new group has been launched for professionals, practitioners, researchers and those interested in the ways that animals can influence human health and wellbeing.

Please join us on the LinkedIn professional social media platform to connect, discuss and share.

Clio’s Psyche Call for Papers

anthrozoology — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:39:39 +1100

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Clio’s Psyche Call for Papers

The Psychology of Human-Animal Relationships

Special Issue, June 2012

Submissions due April 1, 2012

Dear Colleague,

Throughout history, humans have experienced many different relationships with animals: companion and helper, enemy, food, entertainment, totem and god. We anthropomorphize animals. We grieve at the loss of our animal companions. We learn about humans from the work of ethologists in the scientific study of animal behaviour including aggression, altruism, communications, dominance/submission, emotions, imprinting, mating, and sex. For our June 2012 Special Issue of Clio’s Psyche: Understanding the “Why” of Culture, Current Events, History and Society, we welcome your thoughts on a variety of related subjects including those below. We seek psychoanalytic/psychological insights on the psychology of:

• The domestication of the wild and the human-animal bond

• Fear (zoophobia) & loathing of animals

• Animals as food: changing fantasies about and historical changes in taste; explorations of the eating & killing of animals, and the rejection of both

• Animals as companions, curiosities, food, pests, surrogates, totems, etc.

• Companion animal end of life issues & rituals, loss and bereavement

• Why different owners choose certain pets

• Animals as family members we love enough to pick up their feces

• Childhood relationships to animals: stuffed animals, fantasy and mythical animals (unicorns, centaurs), perceptions of pets in childhood compared to later in life (fantasy vs. reality), circuses or 4-H clubs and fairs

• The healing power of pets and animal companions, & animal-assisted therapy

• When pets assume the role of children for childless couples & empty nesters

• Control & power in human-animal interactions: obedience training, etc.

• Ethology: what we learn about humans from the scientific study of animals

• Working dogs for the disabled, military, and police

• Freud and his dogs (Chow Chow Jo-Fi, etc.) in the therapeutic setting

• Psychological correlations between exotic (extreme) pets (snakes, spiders/insects, small mammals) and the personalities of their owners

• Observing elusive animals in the wild

• Animals in circuses, laboratories, photos, workplaces, or zoos

• Extinction in fantasy, history, psychology, and science

• From killing to saving animals: Darwin, Theodore Roosevelt, et al.

• Historical & religious views on animals

• Reviews/review essays on books (The Vindication of Brutes, 1792), exhibits, films (Black Beauty, Sea Biscuit), plays (War Horse), shows, or Web sites

We seek articles from 500-1500 words—including your brief biography—by April 1, 2012. An expression of interest now and then an abstract or outline by March 10 would be helpful. An article of up to 4,000 words for a possible symposium would need to be submitted by March 1, 2012. Send documents in Microsoft Word (*.doc) or rich text (*.rtf) format to “Human-Animal Relationships” guest editor Bob Lentz at lentz@telusplanet.net.

It is the style of our scholarly quarterly to publish thought-provoking, clearly written articles based upon psychoanalytic/psychological insight, developed with examples from history, current events, and the human experience. We are open to all psychological approaches and prefer that articles be personalized, without psychoanalytic/psychological terminology or jargon, and with parenthetical citations (author, title, year, and page) but without foot/endnotes or bibliography. Submissions the editors deem suitable are anonymously refereed.

For those who are not familiar with our publication and its sponsor, Clio's Psyche is completing its 18th year of publication by the Psychohistory Forum, a 29-year-old organization of academics, therapists, and laypeople holding regular scholarly meetings in Manhattan and at international conventions. For additional information, subscription/membership questionnaire and other information may be found on our website at cliospsyche.org.

We hope you can join this important endeavor. Many of our subscribers tell us that they find our publication to be a lively, compelling read that provides in-depth analyses. Please forward this Call for Papers to any colleagues (including associations or electronic mailing lists) who may be interested. If you have any questions, please e-mail Bob Lentz at lentz@telusplanet.net or me at pelovitz@aol.com.

Sincerely yours,

Paul H. Elovitz, PhD, Historian, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist, Professor, and Editor, Clio's Psyche

P.S.: Our Thanks to Irene Javors and Nancy Unger for their ideas for this Call for Papers.

Purry pets good for health

anthrozoology — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:19:17 +1100

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Researchers have found a strong link between cat ownership and heart health, with some studies showing that the risk of a heart attack can be reduced by nearly one third.

Announcing the new open access, online, peer-reviewed publication Human-Animal Interaction (HAI)

anthrozoology — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:51:03 +1100

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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Human-Animal Interaction (HAI)

Animal-Human Interaction: Research and Practice

Announcing the new open access, online, peer-reviewed publication Human-Animal Interaction (HAI), devoted to the dissemination of research in the field of the interaction between non-human animals and their human counterparts. The goal of the Human-Animal Interaction is to bring together researchers, academicians, clinicians/practitioners, and scholarly students working in different areas for the advancement of the human-animal
interaction field.

CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT - Developmental Social Neuroscience of Human-Animal Interactions

anthrozoology — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:01:18 +1000

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CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT

Social Neuroscience of Human-Animal Interactions

November 10- 11, 2011

Washington, DC

A satellite meeting of Society for Neuroscience 2011

Sponsored by

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

and

The WALTHAM^® Centre for Pet Nutrition, a Division of Mars, Incorporated

Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) is commonplace during childhood and other stages of human development, and a number of studies have suggested HAI may play a role in improving human health, preventing emotional distress, reducing stress, increasing academic achievement, and increasing well-being across the life-span. Much of this research has been descriptive and little work has looked at the underlying neurobiological mechanisms associated with HAI. There is a need for research on the underlying neural, genetic, and basic affiliation and motivation processes contributing to HAI. Because this is an emerging area of public health inquiry, researchers with expertise in studying neurobiological mechanisms supporting human behaviors have rarely been involved in HAI and are not familiar with the intriguing public health results and questions early HAI research has generated. Likewise, most researchers who have been involved in current HAI studies are not familiar with neurobiological approaches or are not familiar with the types of collaborations they could establish to investigate basic mechanisms associated with HAI.

The purpose of this 1.5 day conference is to bring together experts in social, emotional and cognitive neuroscience with researchers investigating human-animal interactions. The conference will focus on current methods and findings in developmental neuroscience, specifically in the areas of social and emotional development, cognition, motivation, and social affiliation. The conference will also focus on relevant questions regarding basic mechanisms of HAI of mutual interest to the participants as well as the methods and measures appropriate for investigating those questions.

Due to space limitations, only a very small number of seats will be available for this event. To guarantee a seat, please register as soon as possible.

The conference webpage contains additional information, including a draft agenda, and also provides the ability to register online:

http://www.haineuroconference2011.ezregister.com

New HAI Book released by American Psychological Association

anthrozoology — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:08:45 +1000

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How Animals Affect Us: Examining the Influence of Human–Animal Interaction on Child Development and Human Health

Edited by Peggy McCardle, PhD, MPH; Sandra McCune, PhD; James A. Griffin, PhD; and Valerie Maholmes, PhD, CAS

Examining the influence of human-animal interaction on child development and human health.

For more information, visit the APA Website.

NEW! Animals in Our Lives : Human–Animal Interaction in Family, Community, and Therapeutic Settings

anthrozoology — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:16:44 +1000

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Animals in Our Lives
Human–Animal Interaction in Family, Community, and Therapeutic Settings
Edited by Peggy McCardle, Ph.D., M.P.H., Sandra McCune, Ph.D., James A. Griffin, Ph.D., Layla Esposito, Ph.D., & Lisa S. Freund, Ph.D.

"Thorough and up-to-date ... a timely, very important contribution to the growing field of human–animal interaction." —Brinda Jegatheesan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology and Early Childhood and Family Studies, University of Washington

"Destined to be a classic ... A must-read for young scientists and seasoned professionals alike." —Frank Ascione, Ph.D., Professor and American Humane Endowed Chair; Executive Director, Institute for Human–Animal Connection, University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work

More information and how to order.

Funding Opportunity - NICHD releases the next RFA for HAI work

anthrozoology — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:27:09 +1000

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The National Institute of Child Health and Development has just released the next RFA for Human Animal Interaction work.
The deadline for applications is 21st December 2010

Click here for details on this funding opportunity.

Coming Soon! How animals benefit children—all the latest research from top experts

anthrozoology — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:32:56 +1000

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Animals in Our Lives
Human–Animal Interaction in Family, Community, and Therapeutic Settings

By Peggy McCardle, Ph.D., Sandra McCune, Ph.D., James A. Griffin, Ph.D., Layla Esposito, Ph.D., & Lisa Freund, Ph.D.

What do we know about the benefits of human-animal interaction (HAI)—and what future research needs to be done to ensure high-quality, evidence-based practices? Find out in this book, a resource that presents the latest research on the positive effects of animal therapies and interactions on child health and development.

Gathering contributions from the leading experts in the HAI field, this state-of-the-art research volume is essential for anyone interested in the impact animals have on child development, whether through interaction with pets or through more formal interventions like therapeutic horseback riding or assistance dogs. Program administrators, researchers, and practitioners will explore the current evidence on

how children with disabilities—including autism—can benefit from animal therapies
how animals can strengthen empathy, trust, relationships, and other hallmarks of social competence
why animal-assisted intervention is valuable for children with mental health issues and physical illnesses
how animals in classrooms can motivate children to learn and enhance a wide range of developmental skills
which key factors help ensure ethical HAI practices
how to reduce risks associated with child–animal interactions, including allergies, bites, and viruses
why pet ownership can benefit both a child and the whole family

To help them shape the future of the emerging HAI field, readers will examine the fundamental principles of evidence-based practice, learn how to meet the challenges of designing and sustaining HAI research, and get a framework to use as a starting point for new research studies.

Whether used as a text or as a reference for researchers and decision makers (or as a source of information for pet owners and parents), this book will help readers take the first important steps toward ethical, evidence-based HAI practices that really improve child outcomes.

With contributions by

Temple Grandin
Alan Beck
Nancy Gee
Lynne Haverkos
Patricia McConnell
Anke Prothmann
James Serpell
Roland Thorpe
Kate Trujillo
Lisa Wood
and more

Animals in Our Lives: Human-Animal Interaction in Family,Community and Therapeutic Settings

anthrozoology — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:53:24 +1000

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Download flyer here

Animals in Our Lives
Human–Animal Interaction in Family, Community & Therapeutic Settings
By Peggy McCardle, Ph.D., Sandra McCune, Ph.D., James A. Griffin, Ph.D., Layla Esposito, Ph.D., and Lisa Freund, Ph.D.

What do we know about the benefits of human–animal interaction (HAI)—and what future research needs to be done to ensure high-quality, evidence-based practices? Find out in this book, a resource that presents the latest research on the positive effects of animal therapies and interactions on child health and development.