Animal abuse as an early predictor of violent crime later in life: A comparison of male and female inmates

Research evidence suggests a link between animal abuse and violence in adulthood. Animal abuse is part of a triad of behaviors (fire setting, enuresis, and animal cruelty) that are believed to predict violence in adulthood. A majority of the research has focused on males as the primary perpetrators of animal cruelty and latent interpersonal violence. With greater scientific and social support for the connection between animal cruelty and interpersonal aggression, primarily within families, a new debate in the field began regarding the validity of the violence graduation hypothesis. Researchers began to question the connection between animal cruelty and violence against women and children. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between animal abuse and criminal behavior. Specifically, the study examined whether a history of animal abuse can predict violent and nonviolent criminal tendencies in adulthood. The study also examined if there are gender differences in animal abuse and subsequent criminal behavior in adulthood. Participants ( N = 207), who were drawn from a detention facility in the Central Valley Region of California, completed a self-report Demographic Questionnaire. The results indicated the incidence of animal abuse was significantly higher in inmates who committed violent crimes than in inmates who committed nonviolent crimes. The results also indicated there were no significant gender differences in the incidence of animal abuse and violent crime. Post hoc analysis showed a significant gender differences in reported incidence of sexual assault of animals, with female inmates having a significantly higher incidence than male inmates. The implications of the findings and the limitations of the study are addressed, and suggestions for further research are discussed.