Annotated Bibliography

Amiot, C. & Bastian, B. (2015). Toward a psychology of human-

         animal relations. American Psychological Association

                    Bulletin. 141(1), 6-47.

 The authors, work and study in the field of psychology at different Universities in Canada. Their research was funded by grants from social sciences and humanities research councils of Canada. Bulletin touches on the little studied field of human-animal relationships as it relates to human psychology. The main point is human-animal relations as a domain of human life that warrants empirical and theoretical attention from the field of human psychology.

Bennett, P., Coleman, G., Dwyer, F. (2006).  Development of the

           Monash dog owner relationship scale (MDORS).

           Anthrozoos, 19(3), 243-256.

The authors from the Anthrozoology Research Group, Animal Welfare Science Centre, and the School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine at the Monash University in Victoria Australia. This collaboration is a very useful article explaining the development and implementation of the Monash Dog Owner Relationship scale (MDORS).  A very useful tool in defining dog-ownership relationships.  Each relationship is independent and should be assessed and evaluated accordingly.

Cloninger, C. R., Dinis, L., Sá, L., Moreira, P. S., Oliveira, J. T.,

Dias, A., & Oliveira, J. (2015). Personality and well-being in adolescents. Frontiers in Psychology, 5. ArtID: 1494

The Portugal authors define different profiles of the character and dimensions of self-directedness, cooperativeness, and self-transcendence. They explain how this results in different levels of well-being among adults and adolescents.

Coulter, M., & Pichot, T. (2007). Animal-assisted brief therapy, a

solution-focused approach. New York, NY:  Howell Book House, Inc.

Explains basic differences between problem-focused therapy and solution-focused therapy.  Especially interesting because animal-assisted therapy is used to focus on solutions to problems instead of just the problems.

Dietz, T. J., Davis, D., & Pennings, J. (2012). Evaluating Animal-

Assisted Therapy in Group Treatment for Child Sexual Abuse. Journal Of Child Sexual Abuse, 21(6), 665-683. doi:10.1080/10538712.2012.726700.

The authors offer a documented study which compares the effectiveness of three group interventions on children who have been sexually abused. The study revealed results which suggest children who participated in group therapy involving animals, showed significantly more change than the other groups. The study is meticulously done and documented.

Dotson, M., Hyatt, E. (2008).  Understanding dog-human

companionship.  Journal of Business Research. 61, 457-466.

The article is the result of a survey of 749 dog owners.  It focuses on the human’s interactions with their dogs.  It identifies seven dimensions of dog companionship.

Fine, A. (2010). Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: 

theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice. Oxford, UK:  Elsevier, Inc.

Invaluable text broken down into guidelines, methodology, theory, practice, and everything pertaining to AAT.  A go-to book on AAT.  A must have for beginners as well as seasoned therapists. It also offers a complete compilation of references.

Friedmann, E., Katcher,A., Lynch, J, & Thomas, S. (1980).  Animal

companions and one-year survival of patients after discharge from a coronary care unit.  Public Health Reports, 95, 307-312.

Report statistically describes the results of a revolutionary study on 92 outpatients of a cardiac care ward.  The study proves the heart patients rescuing and owning dogs lived longer than those who did not.

Kahn, P., & Kellert, S. (2002).  Children and Nature. Cambridge,

Massachusetts: The MIT Press.

An investigation of psychological, sociocultural, and evolutionary investigation of children, including cognitive science, developmental psychology, ecology,

education, environmental studies, evolutionary psychology, political science, primatology, psychiatry, and social psychology.

Kiesel, L. (2012). Why environmentalists should care about

euthanasia. Earth Island Journal. (27)3.

The author grew up in Brooklyn and was raised with many animals. Animals were her gateway to larger environmental concerns. In this article she makes us all think about how easy it is to cast aside and euthanize the companion animals we no longer want to deal with. This article makes me feel ashamed of how easy it is to “do the right thing” and euthanized the unwanted.

Kotler, S. (2011). A Small Furry Prayer:  Dog Rescue and the

Meaning of Life. Fairfield, PA:  Quad/Graphics.

The author and his wife run a rescue sanctuary and advocate for animals without voices. He relates their heart warming and heart wrenching stories of animal rescue. He remembers many of the dogs he rescued and the homes in which they were placed. Reading this book helps me relieve my rescuing experiences.

Levinson, B. (1969) Pet-Oriented Child Psychotherapy.

Springfield, IL:  Charles C. Thomas.

Levinson, explores some of the diverse psychotherapeutic uses of pets and some of the techniques that have and can be developed in the systematic and structured employment of pets in psychotherapy. I find it particularly useful in regards to the primary focus it has on children and animal therapy.

Loar, L., & Coleman, L. (2004). Teaching empathy:  Animal-

Assisted Therapy Programs for Children and Families Exposed to Violence. Alameda, CA:  Latham Foundation Publications.

The authors are experienced human service workers who have dedicated their life to making the world a better place for children and animals. This book was published by the Latham Foundation which is the leading organization promoting animal-assisted therapy. This book tells the reader how to develop a successful program, animals and handlers, and what to expect when working with abused and neglected children.

Myers, D. (2014). Exploring psychology.  Holland, MI:  Worth

Publishers.

Briefly covers the field of human psychology. The award winning author received his education at University of Iowa and spent his career at Hope College in Michigan.

Olmert, M., (2009). Oxytocin deprivation. Made for Each Other: 

The Biology of the Human-Animal Bond. (pp. 195-217). Philidelphia, PA: Da Capo Press.

The author has written documentaries for Smithsonian, World, and National Geographic Explorer. She was asked to participate in a research team by the University of Maryland doing research on neurobiology of social bonding. The book Made for Each Other was inspired by her work on the research of social bonding.

Stallwood, K. (2001). Speaking out for animals. New York, NY:

  Lantern Books.

Kim Stallwood has put together a compilation of stories about people who rescue and advocate for animals. She decided to become an advocate after working in a chicken processing plant one summer. She covers the theories and practice of the people she writes about. They all talk about compassion and the well-being they get from rescuing animals.

Winegar, K. (2009). Saved. Philadelphia, PA:  Da Cappo Press.

Karin Winegar has compiled a group of stories about people trying to heal the damage done to animals and how animals heal suffering human beings. She explains how some people heal one animal at a time, and others create complete sanctuaries. She explains humans need affection and need to have companionship.

Wolf, E. (1988). Treating the self:  Elements of clinical self

psychology. New York:  The Guilford Press.

Ernest S. Wolf, M.D.A, friend and close collaborator of Heinz Kohut, Dr. Wolf is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Northwestern University Medical School and serves as faculty and training analyst at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. He also sits on the Scientific Advisory Boards of the Center for Psychosocial Studies in Chicago, Illinois and the Clinical-Developmental Institute in Belmont, Massachusetts. One of the foremost authorities on self psychology, he has authored numerous articles and book chapters on the topic.