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Perceptions of animal‐assisted interventions: The influence of attitudes toward companion animals
Author(s) -
Crossman Molly K.,
Kazdin Alan E.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.22548
Subject(s) - companion animal , psychology , psychological intervention , perception , credibility , intervention (counseling) , social psychology , appeal , clinical psychology , psychiatry , psychotherapist , neuroscience , political science , law
Objective We tested whether people are prone toward positive perceptions of Animal‐Assisted Interventions (AAIs). We additionally evaluated whether this effect is stronger for people who have positive attitudes toward companion animals. Method We presented 210 participants with fictitious news reports, each describing a study of an AAI or a control intervention. Participants rated the news reports on their credibility, acceptability, and general appeal and completed a measure of attitudes toward companion animals. Results Individuals with positive attitudes toward companion animals evaluated AAIs as more credible, acceptable, and positive than did individuals with negative attitudes toward companion animals. There was no difference in how people with positive and negative attitudes toward companion animals evaluated control treatments. Conclusion We found that individuals with positive attitudes toward companion animals perceived AAIs as more credible, acceptable, and positive, relative to individuals with more negative attitudes toward companion animals.