The Motivational Bases of Attitudes Toward Animals

摘要: The need for a theoretical grounding of the human-animal relationship is addressed from perspective motivational bases attitudes toward animals. Building on recent developments in attitude theory, and integrating themes historical cultural background to Western attitudes, model developed that proposes three fundamental bases, where responses animals depend instrumental self interest, empathylidentification, or people's beliefs values about nature status Initial empirical studies using revealed reduced instrumentality, heightened empathy, strong commitment value endorsing equal humans among animal rights supporters. Farmers exhibited an opposite pattern, supported dominant humans. urban public evidenced moderate levels instrumentality neutral position with some individuals exhibiting considerable ambivalence (agreeing both equality dominance). Gender differences (favoring males) empathy females), were less evident values, confined female male farmers. Directions future research are discussecl, as practical this approach.