Workshop 3: 1.30 - 4.30pm

The third in our series of reflective workshops on interactions between children/adolescents and animals will examine both unintentional and intentional cruelty. The former often stems from a lack of knowledge about animals’ welfare needs and feelings. The latter is associated with various psychological risk factors in childhood (including history of abuse, witnessing abuse, conduct disorder and specific personality traits). We look at how the family environment might contribute to, or promote, negative interactions with animals, and consider how both forms of cruelty might best be addressed, using evidence from our intervention evaluations. This will include an introduction to the new ‘Animal Guardians’ programme that has been developed in collaboration with the Scottish SPCA specifically to work with children who have been cruel to animals. 

The workshops are organised by the caar group (Children, Adolescents & Animals Research), part of the Centre for Applied Developmental Psychology (CADP) in the School of Health in Social Science. Please note that the workshops are aimed at professionals involved with child and/or animal welfare (animal welfare education, science education, teaching, social work, social care, police, juvenile justice, health). The workshop format will comprise an introduction to our work, brief summaries of key findings, and focused opportunities to discuss and reflect on personal experience and the practical relevance of the research. It will conclude with a summary of key learning points/implications. 

Visit the caar website 

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