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Predicting animal attachment from hypnotizability, absorption, and dissociation scores
Joseph P Green1, Emily S Green
1Department of Psychology, 4240 Campus Drive, The Ohio State University, Lima, OH 45804, USA. green.301@osu.edu
The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis
|March 2, 2010
Summary
This study found that higher absorption and hypnotizability in female students correlated with stronger pet attachment. However, dissociation did not show a significant link, and context had minimal impact on these relationships.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Human-Animal Interaction
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Understanding the psychological factors influencing the human-animal bond is crucial for appreciating the depth of pet attachment.
- Previous research has explored various personality traits, but the specific roles of absorption, dissociation, and hypnotizability require further investigation in relation to pet bonding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlations between psychological traits—specifically absorption, dissociation, and hypnotizability—and the level of pet attachment in undergraduate students.
- To examine the influence of testing context (same vs. different sessions) on the observed associations between these psychological traits and pet attachment.
Main Methods:
- A sample of nearly 300 undergraduate students completed standardized scales measuring absorption (Tellegen Absorption Scale), dissociation (Dissociative Experiences Scale), and hypnotizability (Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility).
- Pet attachment was assessed using the Companion Animal Bonding Scale.
- The study analyzed correlations between trait scores and pet attachment, considering the testing context.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was found between absorption scores and pet attachment.
- A small positive correlation was observed between hypnotizability scores and pet attachment, specifically among female participants.
- No significant positive correlation was found between dissociation scores and pet attachment. Testing context had a negligible effect on the associations.
Conclusions:
- Absorption appears to be a key psychological trait associated with stronger pet attachment.
- Hypnotizability may play a role in pet attachment, particularly for women.
- Dissociation and testing context were not significant predictors of pet attachment in this undergraduate sample.
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