The American Psychiatric Association: Background Of Animal Abuse

Background of Animal Abuse

Animal abuse is used by many different people in all different ways. Animal abuse has had a long history and is still a problem in present day time. According to American Society animal abuse is defined as acts of violence or neglect perpetrated against animals. It is said that animal abuse has lead all the way back to the 12th century. Ever since then animal abuse has only grown into a bigger problem. This shows the history of animal abuse and how long it has been going on for. From what the 12th century had started it has only created a world of brutality and hate towards innocent animals.

Although animal abuse is still a big problem, there are people who are trying to make a difference. Many activists have attempted

But we don’t know the history or the background behind that individual. Many reasons why animals are abused in our world today is from an individual having some sort of mental illness or personality disorder. It is said by CFAWR in 2016 that animal abuse comes from early on stages that come from people who have what is called a conduct disorder. A conduct disorder is defined as the repetition of actions and behaviors in which the basic rights of a human are violated causing one to be violent and angered. “The American Psychiatric Association considers animal cruelty as one of the diagnostic criteria of conduct disorder”(CFAWR, 2016, para.3). Some individuals choose to abuse an animal for their own reasons, but others choose to abuse an animal because they have no other option. Animal abuse is wrong by anyone who decides to take action by abusing an animal, but some individuals have a clinical disorder or illness that tricks them into doing the wrong actions, like abusing an animal. It is said by the Mayo Clinic in 2015 that a major reason why people abuse animals is because an antisocial personality disorder. This illness causes a person to think destructively and negatively towards humans and animals. This disorder makes an individual not care about what's right from wrong or the feelings of someone or something else. ”In children, cruelty to animals, bullying behavior, impulsivity or explosions of anger, social isolation and poor school performance may be, in some cases, early signs of the disorder” (Mayo Clinic, 2015, para. 11). Different types of disorders can cause many wrong and negative actions towards animals because these disorders tell humans not to care about one another's feelings. These mental illnesses are causing more cases of animal abuse because the care for that individual is not there. The next paragraph will talk about how these causes turn into effects after an abuser has abused an