- What Science Says About Cat and Dog Owners
- Dog owners are more outgoing
- Cat owners are more creative
- The benefits of having a pet
Los domestic animals They have been with us for thousands of years. There is numerous scientific studies who have been analyzing this relationship, especially with our two quintessential pets: the cat and the dog.
The mere fact of having a pet or the choice of a companion animal, both the species, like the racecan say a lot about our personality.
What Science Says About Cat and Dog Owners
Among the psychological studies on the relationship with petsan investigation carried out by professors at the University of Florida and Carroll University (Wisconsin), who inquired into the personality differences between dog loving people and cat loving people.
The study has found that the personas “more than catsThey tend to be smarter than people who prefer to have a dog. And before dog lovers call to complain, let’s clarify that the study doesn’t say that a dog owner can’t be a genius. He is a statistical aspect. In the total number of cat owners there are more intelligent people than in the total number of dog owners.
In addition, the research also found that cat lovers they tend to be more creativewith a personality more independent and rebellious. Yes, very similar to the personality attributed to this pet.
However, in various aspects of the research, the psychologists saw other positive personality traits in dog owners.
Dog owners are more outgoing
To reach their conclusions, the researchers used personality and intelligence tests of 600 American studentswho were asked if they had a predilection for cats or dogs.
- those who they prefer to have a cat they had obtained higher scores on general tests of reasoning and intelligence. They were also more open-minded, self-reliant, and better at abstract thinking.
“Taken as a whole, the average personality is shy, lonely, nonconformist personbut also creative, sentimental and self-sufficient”, explained the Dr. Andrea Guastello, a member of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Florida and first author of the study.
- those who they prefer to have a dogIn general, they had more personalities outgoing, friendly and are more aware of the rules.
“Our findings describe them as more reliable, pragmatic, sociable, expressive and better predisposed to group work,” adds Dr. Guastello.
Cat owners are more creative
The study concludes that creativity can be the key the difference between one group and another. Traits linked to creative people are seen more in cat lovers, such as the most open minded and less attention to rules. Traits that restrict that creativity, such as the conscience and formality They are more common in dog lovers.
The researchers found no significant differences in other aspects of personality, such as anxiety level or neurotic tendencies.
This study has shortcomings, which somewhat limit its conclusions. It was an investigation in a young age group, all under 25 years of age, with a majority participation of women against men (almost 3 to 1) and in 90% whites of European origin (Black or Latino participants were 9%).
Other previous studies have also delved into the owner’s personality and the most suitable pet for each one. One of the goals is avoid the millions of pets that are abandoned. In the United States alone, animal shelters receive almost 8 million pets every year. Spain tops the list in Europe. Every year, some 280,000 animals are abandoned.
The benefits of having a pet
These previous studies have also shown contradictions. For example, the fidelity that is supposed in the personality of dog owners is not related to the number of dropouts what’s up. The sociability pointed out by some studies clashes with others where animal owners point out that prefer their pets to contact with other people.
In short, in aspects of psychology and pets, much remains to be clarified. What this and other studies do confirm is that owning a pet has undoubted benefits on the owner’s psyche. Although those who live with a cat tend to point out that they are not the owners, since a cat never has an owner.
Compared with people without a pet, those who did have a furry at home scored less risk of depression, loneliness and they were more given to one positive outlook on life.
