Pet Ownership and Mental Health Statistics

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Questions and Answers

What percentage of respondents reported that pet ownership has a positive impact on their mental health?

  • 44%
  • 86% (correct)
  • 69%
  • 73%

According to the provided data, what is the largest age group that buys gifts for their pets on birthdays or holidays?

  • 65+
  • 45-64
  • 30-44 (correct)
  • 18-29

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of pet ownership listed in the provided text?

  • Calming presence
  • Unconditional love and support
  • Reduced stress and anxiety
  • Improved physical health (correct)

What is the innate human desire to be part of something larger than ourselves called?

<p>Belonging (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What hormone is released during sex, birth, and lactation and has been shown to increase in both humans and dogs after 5-20 minutes of petting?

<p>Oxytocin (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following concepts refers to the appreciation of the natural world and could potentially influence the selection of pets?

<p>Biophilia (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the provided data, what percentage of Boomer respondents consider their pets as part of their family?

<p>80% (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The text suggests which of the following as a potential reason for the popularity of mini and toy breeds?

<p>The selection of juvenile characteristics (neoteny) (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason that cats were domesticated by humans?

<p>Cats helped to control rodent populations in grain stores. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the specific wildcat species that is believed to be the ancestor of domestic cats?

<p>Felis silvestris lybica (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Williams-Beuren Syndrome in humans?

<p>Increased aggression and fearfulness (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do the genes GTF2I and GTF2IRD1 differ between dogs and wolves, and what is their significance?

<p>The genes have different structures, suggesting a genetic basis for dog tameness. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a piece of evidence supporting the early domestication of dogs?

<p>Similarities in chromosome numbers between dogs, wolves, and other canid species. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main groups that Miacids evolved into?

<p>Caniforms and feliforms (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what is the significance of the WBSCR17 gene?

<p>This gene is found in both humans and dogs and is associated with social behavior. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between domestic dogs and their wolf ancestors in terms of their WBSCR17 gene?

<p>The gene is expressed differently in dogs, leading to greater sociability. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between Felis silvestris lybica and Felis silvestris silvestris?

<p>Felis silvestris lybica is a domesticated cat, while Felis silvestris silvestris is a wild cat. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason that domestic cats show fewer morphological changes than domestic dogs?

<p>Cats experienced a less intense selection process during domestication. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Pet Ownership Impact

88% consider pets as family; 86% report positive mental health effects.

Benefits of Pets

Pets help reduce stress, provide love, companionship, and a calming presence.

Oxytocin

A hormone linked to bonding, reduced fear and anxiety, increased with petting.

Connection vs. Belonging

Connection is being seen and valued; belonging is the desire to be part of something larger.

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Neoteny

Selection of juvenile traits in pets that encourage compassion and reduce aggression.

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Biophilia

Appreciation of nature; different pets may reflect different types of this attachment.

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Unconditional Love from Pets

Pets provide unwavering support and warmth, enhancing emotional well-being.

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Pet Gift Giving

Percentage of pet owners buying gifts for pets varies by age group, showing affection.

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Attachment Theory

The emotional bond formed between individuals that provides security and connectedness.

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Domestication of Dogs

The process of taming wolves into domesticated dogs, starting over 15,000 years ago.

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Evidence of Domestication

Includes archeological findings, genetic studies, and ancient DNA that show early domesticated dogs.

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Taxonomic System

A hierarchical classification system used to categorize organisms down to species.

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Domestication of Cats

Cats became domesticated around 9,500 years ago, often to control pests in agricultural settings.

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Morphological Changes in Domestication

Physical changes in domestic animals, like ear shape and coat color, that result from selective breeding.

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Behavioral Changes in Domestication

Alterations in animal behavior due to domestication, such as increased social interaction and reduced fear.

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Oxytocin Release

A hormone associated with bonding and social connection, often released during positive interactions.

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Caniforms and Feliforms

Taxonomic groups that include dog-like (caniforms) and cat-like (feliforms) mammals.

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Pleading Behavior in Dogs

Behavior changes in dogs, like tail wagging and seeking proximity to humans, enhancing their desirability as companions.

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Study Notes

Pet Ownership Statistics

  • 88% of respondents in the APA's Healthy Minds Monthly Poll (2023) consider their pets part of the family.
  • 86% reported a positive impact of pet ownership on their mental health.
  • Pet ownership is associated with reduced stress and anxiety (69%), unconditional love and support (69%), companionship (69%), calming presence (66%), and friendship (63%).
  • Millennial, Gen X, and Boomer demographics reported high rates of pet ownership, ranging from 72% to 81%.
  • Significant percentages of respondents across age groups (18-29, 30-44, 45-64, 65+) reported buying gifts for their pets (53%, 62%, 58%, 44% respectively).

Pet Ownership and Connection

  • Connection, according to Dr. Brené Brown, involves feeling seen, heard, and valued, and giving and receiving without judgment. Belonging is the innate human desire to be part of something larger than oneself, often sought through fitting in rather than authenticity.
  • Social species need connection and belonging.
  • True belonging comes from presenting one's authentic self.

Oxytocin and Bonding

  • Oxytocin is a hormone released during sex, birth, and lactation, associated with bonding and reducing fear and anxiety.
  • 5-20 minutes of petting a dog increases oxytocin levels in both humans and dogs.

Defining the Pet Bond

  • Neoteny (selection of juvenile characteristics) may encourage compassion and discourage aggression in humans toward pets. This may influence the popularity of smaller breeds.
  • Biophilia (appreciation of the natural world) may differ between species of pets—e.g., dogs/cats vs. fish—and influence pet selection.
  • Attachment theory suggests, in part, that the pleasure of interactions is a factor in bonding. Psychological connectedness, security during stress, and biological connection (oxytocin release), also contribute.

Social Support and Pets

  • Strong social support is associated with better health, including reduced feelings of loneliness for pet owners.
  • Pets provide touch, comfort, laughter, and attention, which reduce stress.

Canine Taxonomy and Origin

  • The taxonomic classification of organisms is a hierarchical system that categorizes to the species level.
  • Criteria for classifying organisms include physical/skeletal similarities, intermating potential, chromosome similarity, and gene homology.
  • Miacids, a type of extinct carnivore, evolved into Caniforms (dog-like forms) and Feliforms (cat-like forms).
  • Gray wolves, African wildcats, and European wildcats are examples of early carnivoran species.

Dog Domestication

  • Dogs were domesticated over 15,000 years ago, likely from gray wolves (Canis lupus).
  • Domestication is a process of taming to increase utility for humans, involving natural and artificial selection for traits like decreased fear, reduced flight behavior, and increased social behavior.
  • Genes WBSCR17, GTF2I, and GTF2IRD1 are different in dogs compared to wolves. The Williams-Beuren Syndrome, in humans, is associated with missing a chunk of DNA including WBSCR17, and is associated with sociability.

Evidence of Dog Domestication

  • Archaeological evidence (e.g., 33,000-year-old skulls in Siberia, 18,000-year-old "Dogor") support canine domestication.
  • Cave paintings and burials of dogs with humans (14,000 years ago) during hunter-gatherer times are also evidence.
  • Genetic evidence (mitochondrial studies) suggests an East Asian origin ~15,000 years ago.
  • Ancient DNA and genome association studies support a relationship with East European origins.
  • Dogs, jackals, coyotes, and dholes all have the same chromosome number (78), indicating potential hybridization.
  • Today, 23 distinctive genetic breed clades exist.

Cat Domestication

  • Cats were likely domesticated around ~9,500 years ago, possibly as mutualists with agricultural practices (controlling rodents).
  • Evidence of cats in ancient Egypt (4,500 years ago) indicates their value as snake-killers and companion animals, even worshipped.
  • Cats were brought to Rome from Egypt by Greek settlers.
  • Domestic cats descended from African wildcats ( Felis silvestris lybica) and European wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris).
  • Breed development occurred ~200 years ago, with emphasis on size and color. Morphological changes are markedly less than in dogs.

Domestication Changes

  • Behavioral changes occur quickly, with approachability, tail wagging, and complete affinity with humans developing in fewer generations.
  • Morphological changes take longer; e.g., floppy ears, coat color, shortened/curly tails are selected over generations.
  • Dietary adaptation, such as better digestion of processed foods, is also a part of domestication.
  • Polyestrous (seasonal breeding cycles) may have changed in domesticated animals.

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