The Influence Of Pets On Human Life
Since time immemorial, the presence of domestic or companion animals in human life has been reported in a large number of written texts. The influence that pets have had on humans has filled pages and pages of books, articles and other media.
Origin of domestic animal flu
Going back to the oldest human-pet relationship, the existence of this relationship is confirmed by archaeological evidence. More specifically, evidence has been found that the domestication of the dog took place at the end of the last glacial period.
At that time, humans were engaged in hunting and gathering. Furthermore, they were nomads: in other words, they did not have a permanent residence. Apparently, domestication is the result of a process of interaction between both species that has lasted for tens of thousands of years.
The ancestors of dogs established an interaction with humans based on protection, food supply and shelter, which turned into coevolution and cooperation. Nowadays, the number of houses in which there is at least one dog or cat has increased in Western culture, as well as the houses that house a higher number of them.
Science and human-pet interaction
In the past, science did not attach importance to the interaction that existed between a human being and his pet. According to the Darwinian view, a pet in the city does not bring with it any appreciable advantage. On the contrary, it involves an increase in economic expenditure and the time required to offer food, care and attention.
Nonetheless, people continue to adopt or incorporate pets into their household as another member of the family. And science has taken note of how important the presence of these animals is in human life.
What do people get from their relationship with pets, ignoring the economic consequences?
This is the question that has been sought to answer in recent years. During the last three decades, in fact, the relationships that are established between people and pets have been examined in detail. Their study was conducted across different disciplines in different scientific fields, such as psychology, anthropology and history.
Anthrozoology is a discipline that has aroused great interest in today’s society. As a result, scientific journals dedicated to this new field of investigation appeared, as well as the establishment of numerous associations.
One of these associations is the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), an authoritative source dedicated to the dissemination of scientific studies related to this issue. It also collects donations to finance these researches. Universities in the United States have also established doctoral programs dedicated to this subject.
Some authors have conducted their own investigations at the molecular level and have suggested that the hormone oxytocin may be a relevant factor in seeking an answer to the question we have asked ourselves. This hormone, in fact, makes it possible to establish bonds of trust between people, as well as between humans and animals.
Some of these studies have shown that dogs have the ability to keep their eyes on people. Creating a mutual gaze is important in relationships, in order to build trust. As the philosopher Martin Buber said, “the eyes of an animal have the power to speak a great language”.
Oxytocin therefore intervenes in establishing a social bond. However, its role has not yet been fully clarified, as it is excessively complex. Nonetheless, a new expression was born from these investigations: the “pet effect”.
The effect exerted by the influence of domestic animals
The “pet effect” refers to the positive influence exerted on people by living with an animal. Several studies have found health benefits, such as increasing the chances of survival following a heart attack.
Pets have also been observed to enhance social relationships, strengthen self-esteem in people and reduce triglyceride and cortisol levels, as well as blood pressure. In summary, they allow the manifestation of different types of positive sensory stimulation that can be related to the production of oxytocin and the consolidation of the human-pet relationship.
On a scientific level, we can say that the influence caused by the company of a pet involves physiological, therapeutic and psychosocial aspects. It has been observed that all people with pets increase their physical activity, with consequent positive effects on their health.
Hence, the presence of a pet represents a benefit for people of all ages. Among the different pets, the dog and the cat are included in this list.
Simply put, the influence of pets on human life brings both short and long term benefits. Animals are considered another member of the family because they fill the house with laughter and happiness. So… welcome a pet into your life!
