No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
The purrfect match: The influence of personality on owner satisfaction with their domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus)
Abstract
Pet animals, and the quality of the owner-pet relationship, have an important impact on owners' lives. Further, similarity of owner-pet personality may impact on owner satisfaction though this has not been investigated in relation to cats. In the current study, cat owners (N = 126) completed a two section questionnaire. The owner section assessed three of the Big Five traits (agreeableness, extraversion, neuroticism), dominance, impulsiveness, the Dark Triad (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy), and owner satisfaction with their cat. The pet section assessed the Feline Five (agreeableness, dominance, extraversion, impulsiveness, neuroticism). Positive associations were identified between owner and pet dominance and owner and pet impulsivity. Higher owner dominance also positively correlated with cat extraversion, impulsivity, and neuroticism and owner Dark Triad traits were positively correlated with cat dominance, impulsivity, and neuroticism. None of the owner personality traits related to satisfaction with the cat. Overall, owners were more satisfied with cats high in agreeableness and low in neuroticism. Dissimilarity in owner dominance and cat agreeableness, and owner impulsivity and cat agreeableness were correlated with higher satisfaction. Satisfaction was also positively associated with similarity in scores for owner Dark Triad and cat agreeableness. Future research is recommended, focusing on matching of non-identical personality traits.
... In this dimension, also called "friendliness" (Arahori et al., 2016(Arahori et al., , 2017Turner et al., 1986), we find the terms sociable, calm, friendly, gentle, sociable with people, fearful of people, and tense (Arahori et al., 2016(Arahori et al., , 2017Feaver et al., 1986;Travnik et al., 2022). The dimension "agreeableness" (Evans et al., 2019;Gosling & Bonnenburg, 2021;Litchfield et al., 2017), also are comparable to our PC1. This dimension refers to the emotional stability and valence of emotional responses toward a human or cat, ranging from the most positive emotional state (agreeableness) to the most negative (avoidable). ...
... In , the PC2 expressed high emotional arousal, through the terms agitated and active. The dimension "extraversion" (Evans et al., 2019;Gosling & Bonnenburg, 2021;Litchfield et al., 2017), is also like our PC2. The "extraversion" dimension is defined by the reaction responses to people, as well as the energy and activity level of the behaviors (Salonen et al., 2019). ...
... Guardians of cats scoring higher on PC2, i.e. identified as more exploratory, reported providing toys more often and engaging more frequently in play interactions with their cats. Interactive play between guardian and pet can be beneficial for both, as it can strengthen bonds and relax the cat (Bouma et al., 2021;Evans et al., 2019;Grigg & Kogan, 2019). ...
... However, this scenario has substantially changed and recently, there has been a rapid increase in research on temperament in non-human animals (from this point on, referred to as 'animals') [3][4][5][6]. These studies have been conducted to describe the basic structure of temperament in several species and its implications in a wide range of contexts, for example, the handling of wild animals in captivity; farm animals; and companion species, mainly dogs and cats [3,4,[6][7][8][9]. ...
... The adjectives can be followed by a brief, behavior-based definition to enhance their comprehension and consistency of use between observers, as in Litchfield et al.'s [9] study, in which the authors defined each adjective, for example, "vigilant = watchful or observant; spends a lot of time attending to his/her surroundings; stable = reacts to his/her environment in a calm way; and bold = daring, not restrained or tentative, doesn't hesitate". There is also the option to use questionnaires with short sentences to classify the behavioral responses employing scales that range from 'strongly agree' to 'strongly disagree', for example, 'my cat challenges the usual dominance order with other cats/people in the household' [8]. Although questionnaires of defined adjectives or sentences are considered more understandable by some authors [8,9], in most studies, the adjectives are used without any formal definition. ...
... There is also the option to use questionnaires with short sentences to classify the behavioral responses employing scales that range from 'strongly agree' to 'strongly disagree', for example, 'my cat challenges the usual dominance order with other cats/people in the household' [8]. Although questionnaires of defined adjectives or sentences are considered more understandable by some authors [8,9], in most studies, the adjectives are used without any formal definition. If compared to the sentences, adjectives are usually considered more advantageous for being extendable to a wide range of species, leading to fewer concerns related to translation into other languages, in addition to generating more concise questionnaires [89]. ...
Simple Summary
Temperament can be understood as an animal’s individuality or character. In addition, the terms ‘personality’ and ‘individual differences’ has also been reported. This article presents a literature review of more than three decades of research on temperament in domestic cats, emphasizing its origins and development, methods of assessment, and how the structure of temperament in cats was deciphered. The effects of temperament on human–animal relationships and welfare are also included. Advances in cat temperament research are presented and discussed, identifying possible gaps in knowledge, as well as opportunities for future research.
Abstract
Temperament can be defined as interindividual differences in behavior that are stable over time and in different contexts. The terms ‘personality’, ‘coping styles’, and ‘behavioral syndromes’ have also been used to describe these interindividual differences. In this review, the main aspects of cat temperament research are summarized and discussed, based on 43 original research papers published between 1986 and 2020. We aimed to present current advances in cat temperament research and identify potential gaps in knowledge, as well as opportunities for future research. Proximate mechanisms, such as genetic bases of temperament, ontogenesis and developmental factors, physiological mechanisms, and relationships with morphology, were reviewed. Methods traditionally used to assess the temperament of cats might be classified based on the duration of procedures (short- vs. long-term measures) and the nature of data recordings (coding vs. rating methods). The structure of cat temperament is frequently described using a set of behavioral dimensions, primarily based on interindividual variations in cats’ responses toward humans and conspecifics (e.g., friendliness, sociability, boldness, and aggressiveness). Finally, cats’ temperaments have implications for human–animal interactions and the one welfare concept. Temperament assessment can also contribute to practical aspects, for example, the adoption of shelter cats.
... In a domestic environment, human-social behaviors (e.g., affection towards human owners) are likely desirable (i.e., "adaptive') and mean, aggressive traits undesirable (i.e., "non-adaptive"). This is underlined by the fact that owners report more satisfaction with cats that are agreeable and submissive (Bennett et al., 2017a,b;Evans et al., 2019). These traits are inversely associated with psychopathy in humans (e.g., Paulhus & Williams, 2002;Poy et al., 2014;Rauthman & Kolar, 2013), so a cat high in trait psychopathy may yield lower owner satisfaction. ...
... Specifically, the questionnaire measures agreeableness (5 items, ω = 0.76 e.g., My cat has a closeness with other cats or people), dominance (5 items, ω = 0.84, e.g., My cat is overbearing and intimidating towards other cats), extraversion (5 items, ω = 0.80 e.g., My cat moves frequently), impulsiveness (5 items, ω = 0.71, e. g., My cat is easily distracted and has a short attention span), and neuroticism (5 items, ω = 0.89, e.g., My cat retreats readily or moves away from people). The five items with the most salient factor loadings for each personality factor were used in this questionnaire to reduce the length of the original Feline Five questionnaire; this approach has been used in previous studies (e.g., Evans et al., 2019). Response options were on a five-point Likert scale, anchors; 1 = does not describe my cat, 5 = describes my cat extremely well. ...
We operationalised the triarchic model of psychopathy (boldness, meanness, and disinhibition) in domestic cats using a cat triarchic (CAT-Tri) questionnaire. In study 1 (n = 549), we identified candidate items for CAT-Tri scales using thematically analysed cat owner questionnaire responses. In study 2 (n = 1463), owners completed a questionnaire battery; the preliminary CAT-Tri questionnaire, Feline Five, and Cat-Owner Relationship Subscales. In study 3 (n = 30), associations between feline daily activity and Cat-Tri scales were investigated. A five-factor cat triarchic plus (CAT-Tri+) solution emerged: boldness, disinhibition, meanness, pet-unfriendliness, and human-unfriendliness. Disinhibition and pet-unfriendliness predicted a higher quality cat-owner relationship; meanness and boldness predicted a lower quality relationship. Findings provide insight into the structure of triarchic psychopathy in cats.
... Using this model, cats may therefore have a personality profile which can potentially be used to improve their quality of life. This is most apparent when a cat has a very high or a very low value on one of the factors [96,97]. Table 2.2 [96,97] summarises what each respective high or low value may lead to. ...
... This is most apparent when a cat has a very high or a very low value on one of the factors [96,97]. Table 2.2 [96,97] summarises what each respective high or low value may lead to. However more research is still required to be able to use these factors in practice in order to improve feline welfare. ...
The affects of the combination of game (and toy) design and Animal Welfare Informatics has been studied and applied in relation to multiple species; categorised into domesticated, wild, shelter, zoo, circus, and factory farmed animals. By observing current research, it may easily be deduced that the majority of such research has been conducted in relation to domestic dogs. The domestic dog (canis familiaris) has been part of the daily lives of humans for thousands of years, however this same statement may be applied to the domestic cat (felis silvestris catus or felis catus) as well. On a global scale, domestic cats actually outnumber domestic dogs. However, comparatively, most of animal-centred research has focused on dogs. A major reason for this is that researchers believe that cats are uncooperative which is not always the actual case. Both domesticated species should be given importance so as to aid in their welfare. In fact, all of the differently categorised species should be given such importance. That being said, this is not the incentive behind this dissertation. Certain elements which will be delved into may however prove to be applicable to these other species.
The motivation behind this dissertation is the fact that, similar to domestic dogs, domestic cats may suffer from cognitive decline due to a combination of a progression of age and a lack of mental stimulation. Over the years, several playful artefacts-from intelligent toys to digital games-have been developed for domestic dogs to lessen this cognitive decline but unfortunately, no such games have yet been designed for domestic cats. The objective of this dissertation is thus to provide a basis for the design of a playful artefact which, after its future development, will potentially alleviate cognitive decline in domestic cats. Originally however, the main objective behind this dissertation was to design and develop a digital memory game to possibly alleviate cognitive decline in domestic cats. This changed in time due to several analyses of background information as well as my own deductions and personal reflections.
This research ended up being centred around the analysis of any existing related research , and the proposition of a set of game design guidelines in the context of feline cognitive decline following the existing research. Part of this contribution of knowledge centred around the introduction of game concept documents which were based on the research and proposed guidelines, the discussion of how each concept was formulated, and the corresponding comparatory analysis. To explain this in more detail, a set of twenty-two guidelines were proposed and applied to design two separate concept documents-one for a non-digital system and the other for a digital system.
The comparatory analysis of these two concepts resulted in the conclusion that, while both systems have potential, it may be safer in the long run to develop the non-digital system (at the current time frame of this dissertation). This result stemmed mostly from the fact that the digital system's concept did not make use of all of the guidelines due to the current technological availability, and that we had no means of accurately testing whether the act of not implementing all of the guidelines would negatively impact the domestic cat or not. After all, the domestic cat's welfare is given top priority in this research.
Future work following this research may involve (but is not limited to) the development of the proposed non-digital system, the development of the proposed digital system, a series of practical tests or playthroughs of the developed system/s on some domestic cats, recording of data from the conducted practical tests, and possible iterations of design and development for the system/s based on the acquired test results.
... In addition, complementarity between pet owners and their pets has been previously linked to higher relationship satisfaction. 3,25,50,51 In this regard, investigating if the compatibility of owner and pet personalities affects the attachment insecurity is another interesting direction for future research. Overall, these findings suggested that the human-pet relationship not only has links to human personality but also to the personality and behavior of the pet. ...
Human-pet attachment can impact the life of both parties, and the identification of underlying characteristics related to attachment style can improve human-pet relationships. We employed structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore associations between human, dog, and cat personalities, owner mental well-being, unwanted pet behavior, and attachment styles in a sample of 2,724 Finnish pet owners (92% women) and their 2,545 dogs and 788 cats. Our findings reveal that owner neuroticism and poor mental well-being are linked to anxious pet attachment in both dog and cat owners. Pet characteristics, such as unwanted behavior and lower human sociability are associated with avoidant attachment style. Overall, this study highlights the significance of individual traits in both pets and owners contributing to insecure attachment styles and underscores the potential to enhance the well-being of both pets and their owners through a deeper understanding of these traits.
... Although the proportion of women was high in this study, the sample size was too small to analyze gender differences. Additionally, the cat's personality (gender [56], characteristic temperament [57], and type of attachment toward the owner [58]) may also present a factor affecting the quality and quantity of cat-owner interactions. However, this study was not able to analyze the results for owners living with multiple cats, taking into account their relationships and interactions with individual cats. ...
Simple Summary
In Japan, cats are popular companion animals. However, the details of the effects of direct communication with cats on the psychological and physiological states of their owners remain unknown. In this study, we conducted a remote-format experiment with 32 cat owners in their homes. Owners were requested to interact with their cats for 10 min in a routine manner. The results showed that interactions with cats decreased the emotional arousal and parasympathetic activity of the owners and increased their heart rates. Positive correlations were also noted between heart rate and cortisol concentration as well as between cortisol and oxytocin concentration. The results of this study indicate that interactions with cats at home has an excitatory effect on the physiological aspects of owners, which is in contrast with findings of previous studies that proposed stress reduction. This explains a new aspect of the mechanism of the health-promoting effects of cat ownership.
Abstract
Interactions with animals, including cats, is believed to influence human health. However, studies that investigate the psychological and physiological effects of interacting with cats in their household environment are limited. In this remote study, 32 cat owners in Japan participated from June to October 2021. They completed two tasks, each on separate days in their homes: one simulating daily cat communication (Interaction condition) and another with no interactions (Rest condition). We quantified emotions (arousal level and pleasure level) before and after each condition using the Two-Dimensional Mood Scale Short-term as well as salivary cortisol and oxytocin levels of owners using enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay. Autonomic nervous activity (sympathetic and parasympathetic) was also quantified by heart rate variability analysis. The free interaction with cats decreased emotional arousal and parasympathetic activity, and lead to increased heart rates in owners. There was a positive correlation between heart rate and cortisol concentration, and between cortisol and oxytocin concentration. Furthermore, the frequency of petting the cats was negatively correlated with the rate of change in the parasympathetic activity. In contrast, the parasympathetic nerves in the owners were activated under the Rest condition. Hence, the mechanism of health-enhancing effects of cat ownership includes an arousing effect, in contrast to the previously proposed stress-reduction effect. This result can aid in future developments in cat–human relationship studies. However, a detailed study with a larger sample size is needed to draw definite conclusions.
... Because callousness is often thought to be among the common care of dark personality traits (e.g., Vize et al., 2020), we also assessed empathy via the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI; Davis, 1980), which measures perspective-taking (taking others' point of view), fantasy (taps into imaginative characters' feelings and actions), empathic concern (feeling sympathy or concern for others), and personal distress (feeling anxiety or concern for self in social settings; Davis, 1980). Personality traits captured by the PID-5, SD3, and IRI have been associated with animal abuse (PID-5: Rock et al., 2021;SD3: Johnson, 2018, Kavanagh et al., 2013, experiences with pets during childhood (IRI: Daly & Morton, 2009), witnessing painful veterinary procedures (IRI: Norring et al., 2014), consumption of meat and animal products (SD3: Mertens et al., 2020;IRI: Preylo & Arikawa, 2008), adopting and abandoning pets (IRI: Cardoso et al., 2021) and satisfaction with pet ownership (SD3: Evans et al., 2019). Those high in dark traits had more negative attitudes toward animals and engaged more frequently in animal cruelty (Arluke et al., 1999;Dadds et al., 2006;Felthous & Kellert, 1986;Johnson, 2018;Kavanagh et al., 2013;Rock et al., 2021). ...
Individuals with different personality traits likely hold different attitudes about animal care and conservation and may reflect differently on exposure to media programming such as the controversial Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness documentary. We surveyed 116 community and 473 college participants that had and had not viewed the documentary and examined the association between traits measured by the Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief Form and the Short Dark Triad scales and endorsement of exotic pet ownership and unaccredited zoos. Those that viewed the documentary had more negative attitudes toward exotic pet ownership and unaccredited zoos in general, but having low negative affect, low empathic concern, high antagonism, and psychopathy predicted endorsement of exotic pet ownership and unaccredited zoos regardless of whether participants viewed Tiger King. Being male and high in narcissism additionally predicted positive attitudes toward exotic animal ownership. Respondents reported feeling more positively about exotic pet ownership after viewing Tiger King if they were high in narcissism and low in empathy, supporting the hypothesis that individuals high in dark traits and individuals low in empathy may be more supportive of exploitation of exotic animals and therefore less sympathetic to issues surrounding animal welfare. Future research should further identify the role of personality in exotic pet ownership and endorsement of controversial and inhumane animal activities.
... Many cat owners perceive their cats as members of their family (Salman et al., 1998), therefore, the characterisation of a cat's personality by owners will depend on the relationship between the human and the cat (Elvers et al., 2020). Similarly, the owner's personality might influence the perceived personality of the pet itself (Evans et al., 2019). This potential source of bias might be partially overcome, for example by assessing animal personality with repeated standardised behavioural assay trials of the animals' response to specific situations observed by a trained observer. ...
In many ecological contexts, predation of wildlife by domestic cats Felis catus, combined with their abundance, is a threat to biodiversity conservation. The predatory behaviour of domestic cats shows remarkable between-individual variation. Many free-roaming cats living as companion animals capture, kill and/or bring home few or no prey, while others are prolific killers and likely contribute disproportionately to any impacts upon wild animal populations. Recent work has identified five owner-ascribed personality factors for cats (“The Feline Five”). We tested whether variation in scores for these five factors, quantifying owners’ characterisation of their cats, was associated with capturing and bringing home wild prey, and was related to variation among cats in numbers of recorded prey. We recruited owners of domestic cats kept as companion animals in southwest England. Owners completed a questionnaire assessing their cats’ behavioural traits, and recorded prey items brought home by their pets. Cats that hunted and brought home wild prey scored high for ‘extraversion’ or low for ‘neuroticism’, when compared to cats that did not bring home wild prey. However, variation in the numbers of prey items captured and brought home by hunting cats was not affected by scores for any of the factors. Owner characterisation of their cats’ personalities holds potential to refine approaches for managing hunting by cats, including approaches that do not compromise cat welfare while effectively reducing predation. For example, extraverted cats might be stimulated and encouraged in physical activity through object play in the home environment, with the aim of decreasing hunting motivation. Cat owners might also be more inclined to adopt strategies that they believe better suit their perceptions of their cat’s personality.
... The personality types identified by the authors based on the survey results can be considered analogous to human extroversion or introversion, which is corroborated by the selection of the adjectives compiled in the table. This is a common finding in studies on many other animal species [2], including cats [22] and horses [23]. A similar division into individual personality components in chimpanzees was presented by King and Figueredo [24]. ...
The aim of this study was to evaluate the temperament of dogs on the basis of behavioral observations, with emphasis on 24 selected traits and behaviors. From the observations, the temperament of the dogs was determined and the animals were assigned to one of two personality groups: introvert or extrovert. The study involved 46 dogs. The agglomeration method, Pearson's 1-r distance, and Ward's binding method were used. As shown by the statistical analysis, 18 dogs (39%) were assessed as introverts and 28 dogs (61%) exhibited extrovert traits. To construct a model for the assessment of canine temperament using the identified traits, logistic regression was performed with the independent variables, number of extrovert traits (ETs) and introvert traits (ITs), and a dichotomous dependent variable (1 = extrovert, 0 = introvert), reflecting the assessment of the temperament of the dog based on the observations and results of the original questionnaire.
... However, anecdotal reports suggest these cats tend to struggle to cope with domestic living and also typically fail to meet owner expectations for companionship (Oral communication, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home). This may subsequently lead to reduced owner satisfaction [121,122] and potentially cat relinquishment [123,124]. ...
Simple Summary
The domestic cat is the only species within the felis genus to have transitioned from a wild, solitary species to one of the most popular human-companion animals globally. In stark contrast to their closest wild ancestors, the domestic cat displays an impressive capacity to cohabit successfully with both humans and other cats. However, at an individual level, domestic cats demonstrate substantial variability in their sociability towards both species. Such variability may be influenced by a range of factors including their early life experiences, genetic selection, and individual cat and human characteristics, in addition to various factors associated with their social and physical environment. The impact of these factors may have important implications regarding a cat’s social relationships, their adaptability to various social contexts, and, ultimately, their wellbeing. In line with modern pet-keeping practices, domestic cats may often be exposed to lifestyles which present a range of complex social and environmental challenges, although it is unclear how much cats have been selected by humans for traits that support adaptability to such lifestyles. This review aims to summarise what is currently known about the various factors that may influence domestic cats’ sociality and sociability towards both humans and cats, with a predominant focus on populations managed by humans in confined environments. Current limitations, knowledge gaps, and implications for cat wellbeing are also discussed.
Abstract
Sociality can be broadly defined as the ability and tendency of individuals to reside in social groups with either conspecifics and/or other species. More specifically, sociability relates to the ability and tendency of individuals to display affiliative behaviours in such contexts. The domestic cat is one of the most globally popular companion animals and occupies a diverse range of lifestyles. Despite an arguably short period of domestication from an asocial progenitor, the domestic cat demonstrates an impressive capacity for both intra- and interspecific sociality and sociability. At the same time, however, large populations of domestic cats maintain various degrees of behavioural and reproductive autonomy and are capable of occupying solitary lifestyles away from humans and/or conspecifics. Within social groups, individuals can also vary in their tendency to engage in both affiliative and agonistic interactions, and this interindividual variation is present within free-living populations as well as those managed in confined environments by humans. Considerable scientific enquiry has focused on cats’ social behaviour towards humans (and conspecifics to a much lesser extent) in this latter context. Ontogeny and human selection, in addition to a range of proximate factors including social and environmental parameters and individual cat and human characteristics, have been highlighted as important moderators of cats’ sociability. Such factors may have important consequences regarding individuals’ adaptability to the diverse range of lifestyles that they may occupy. Where limitations to individuals’ social capacities do not enable sufficient adaption, compromises to their wellbeing may occur. This is most pertinent for cats managed by humans, given that the physical and social parameters of the cats’ environment are primarily dictated by people, but that positive human-selection for traits that enhance cats’ adaptability to such lifestyles appears to be limited. However, limitations in the availability and quality of evidence and equivocal findings may impede the current understanding of the role of certain factors in relation to cat sociability and associations with cat wellbeing, although such literature gaps also present important opportunities for further study. This review aims to summarise what is currently known about the various factors that may influence domestic cats’ sociality and sociability towards both humans and conspecifics, with a predominant focus on cats managed by humans in confined environments. Current limitations, knowledge gaps, and implications for cat wellbeing are also discussed.
Temperament has a significant impact on reproductive function. Most studies are devoted to temperament as a mental characteristic, and the sexual temperament of cats and its influence on physiological characteristics of sperm have not been studied at all. The aim of the research was to study physiological features of reproductive function in cats of Russian breeds depending on sexual temperament. The experiments were carried out in Moscow and the Moscow region from 2019 to 2022. The study used 21 breeding mature cats aged 2 to 8 years, which belonged to 5 different Russian breeds (Bengal breed - 5 cats, British shorthair - 5 cats, Siberian breed - 6 cats, Maine Coon - 5 cats, Sphinx - 5 cats). The sexual temperament of cats was determined according to our methodology developed on the basis of modification of the method for determining the sexual temperament for stallions. Mobility of native sperm was the lowest in cats with a weak nervous system, which is 1.17 % less than mobility of sperm in animals with an unbalanced nervous system, 7.36 % less (P 0.01) compared to physiological mobility of newly acquired sperm in an inert nervous system and 9.71 % less than activity of sperm in cats with a sanguine temperament. The highest concentration of sperm was in cats with live sexual temperament, which was 3.02 million/ml more (P 0.05) than in cats with unrestrained type of temperament, 43.09 million/ml more (P 0.01) than in cats with calm sexual temperament and 56.74 million/ ml more (P 0.01) than in cats with weak sexual temperament. Sperm motility after thawing was higher in cats with inert temperament, which was 5.06 % more (P 0.01) compared to cats with mobile temperament and weak nervous system and 9.1 % more (P 0.001) than in unbalanced cats. Survivability of germ cells in Russian cats at 38 C after defrosting was greatest in live sexual temperament cats, which was 0.22 hours more in comparison with calm sexual temperament cats, 0.62 hours more (P 0.01) than in cats with weak sexual temperament and 0.91 hours more than in cats with unrestrained sexual temperament.
The present is a study of the data collected through an online survey which investigated satisfaction of Italian cat-caretakers with their pet, considering health and behavioural complaints. The survey was advertised using social media and a virtual snowball sampling method was applied. The questionnaire collected information about caretaker’s demographics, their cat’s origin, health problems and behavioural complaints, and their satisfaction with the cat. 6096 respondents completed the questionnaire. Logistic regression was applied and some cats’ and caretakers’ demographics predicted both the presence of behavioural problems and the assignment of maximum score in satisfaction. House soiling was the most frequently reported behavioural complaint (4.7%) and it was predicted by both management factors (i.e., number of cats in the household, p<0.05), and cat-related ones (e.g., cat’s age, anxiety level, and health problems, all p<0.001). House soiling, aggression (both intra and inter-species), fear, hyperactivity and eating disorders decreased caretakers’ satisfaction (all p<0.001), whereas the presence of what respondents identified as health problems did not. Moreover, some cat features as “being affectionate” increased the caretaker’s satisfaction (p<0.001). The results of this study highlighted the impact of behavioural complaints on the cat caretaker’s satisfaction with their pet, supporting the need of prevention and/or treatment of behavioural problems or inappropriate behaviours to avoid unsatisfactory relationship between cats and their caretaker and to improve cat welfare.
Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) is used to assess animals' emotional expressions and its potential for serving as an indicator of temperament has been explored. This method is open to assessors' interpretation and it is therefore necessary to evaluate the observers' reliability for different species and contexts. We aimed to assess the intra- and inter-observer reliability of QBA as an indicator of cat ( Felis catus ) temperament. The QBA was applied by 19 observers with divergent profiles of contact with cats (cat owners vs non-owners) and experience in behavioural assessment (experienced vs inexperienced). Forty-two, 12-min videos were assessed, composed of footage of four behavioural tests: unfamiliar person, novel object, conspecific reaction, and food offering tests. By using Principal Component Analysis, we found three principal components (PC) that were considered the main dimensions of cat temperament. According to Kendall's coefficient of concordance, intra-observer reliability was high to very high in PC1 (0.80–0.90) and moderate to high in PC2 and PC3 (0.50–0.82). Inter-observer reliability for the 19 observers was high in PC1 (0.71) and low in PC2 and PC3 (0.21–0.29). The individual concordances with the gold observer (defined based on greater experience with the QBA) ranged from moderate to high. We concluded that QBA could be a reliable tool to assess cat temperament, given the high values of intra- and inter-observer reliabilities in PC1, which is the dimension that most explains the behavioural variations in the cats' temperament. The same did not occur for PC2 and PC3, showing that reliability varied among the different dimensions and observers.
Behavior assessments are an essential part of ensuring shelters provide appropriate care for the cats in their custody. They can identify a propensity for unwanted behaviors, match cats with appropriate adopters, and help to monitor their well‐being while in shelter. A well‐designed behavior assessment program should be holistic, taking advantage of all feasible frameworks for collecting information, including structured behavioral tests, scan samples of behaviors and behavioral indicators, ad libitum behavioral observations, trait ratings, and qualitative behavior histories. As shelter populations change, behavioral interventions and management may play a larger role in animal shelters. A carefully designed behavior assessment program may be crucial in successfully navigating this transition. This chapter will help shelters navigate the literature regarding the purposes and frameworks for conducting behavior assessments and will provide guidance in how to structure a behavior assessment program for use with shelter cats.
Simple Summary
Studies regarding the cat-owner bond are quite rare, and several aspects like personality trait differences in cats related to coat color and the cat-owner relationship require more research. With that purpose, we apply a survey to 211 cat-owners from Mexico. Owners perceived their cats as being bold and friendly. Gray cats had the highest score for being as shy, aloof and intolerant, while orange cats had the highest scores for being trainable, friendly and calm. Tabbies the highest for bold and active, tricolor cats for stubborn, and bicolor cats for tolerant. Higher cat-owner interaction was related with an active and friendly personality and with lower score of aloofness. Higher emotional closeness was related with an active, bold and friendly personality, and higher perceived cost was related with lower score of boldness.
Abstract
Studies regarding the cat-owner bond are quite rare, and several aspects merit more research, including personality trait differences in cats related to coat color and the cat-owner relationship. The objectives of the study were to describe, from the perspective of their owners, the personality traits of cats based on their coat colors and to evaluate the relationships among the Cat Owner Relationship Scale (CORS), its subscales and the traits of cats. Therefore, the CORS was translated into Spanish, and its psychometric properties were assessed. For the personality traits of cats, participants answered a 7-point Likert scale indicating the extent to which they agreed with the following characteristics in describing their cats: active, aloof, bold, calm, friendly, intolerant, shy, stubborn, tolerant and trainable. 211 cat owners living in Mexico participated. Owners perceived their cats as being bold and friendly. Gray cats had the highest score for being as shy, aloof and intolerant, while orange cats had the highest scores for being trainable, friendly and calm. Tabbies the highest for bold and active, tricolor cats for stubborn, and bicolor cats for tolerant. The 3 CORS subscales had adequate psychometric properties when evaluated separately. Cat-owner interaction was positively correlated with an active and friendly personality and negatively correlated with aloofness. Emotional closeness was positively correlated with an active, bold and friendly personality, and perceived cost was negatively correlated with boldness.
Personality has been researched in many companion animals and is described as differences in behavioural traits of individuals that often remain consistent over time. In domestic cats many factors have been discovered to influence personality, including breed, coat colour, gender, rearing experience, number of cats within a household, owner age, owner gender and owner personality. However, research is limited for certain factors, including owner demographics, so the aim was to demonstrate that a simple survey could be used to infer personality traits and identify domestic cat and owner demographical factors that influence certain traits. An online personality survey with 34 traits was sent out to cat owners in the UK, Europe and North America, containing cat and owner demographical questions. Housing type, total number of cats in household and owner animal preference all had significant effects on many of the personality trait scores. Unexpectedly, cat breed, owner age, neutering status and country of residence showed distinct clusters in the multifactor analysis individual model but did not have any significant effects on any of the personality traits, along with coat colour, owner gender and cat gender which were initially considered of importance to the study, contradicting some of the previous research. This study highlights the importance of considering demographical factors that influence personality traits, to predict cat personality based on these factors to cater for specific husbandry practices and to improve the chances of successful adoption for those within shelters.
This study into the behaviour of domestic cats ( Feliscatus ) aimed to assess the relationship between behavioural expressions obtained via the Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) and quantitative outcomes of temperament tests. Four behavioural tests were used: Unfamiliar person (UP); Novel object (NO); Conspecific reaction (CR); and Food offering (FO) tests. Tests were filmed and assessed using an ethogram that included 25 discrete behavioural categories, generating quantitative information (coding method) on the existing temperament dimensions. Videos were also assessed by another observer using the QBA method, based on a list of 20 adjectives rated in visual analogue scales (rating method). Data were analysed using Principal Component Analysis. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were used to relate the principal components (PC) of QBA to the temperament dimensions obtained with the coding method. The QBA allowed us to identify three PC, explaining 76.63% of the total variance. PC1 ranged from 'calm/relaxed/friendly' to 'tense/fearful/alert', reflecting the valence of cats' behavioural and emotional expressions towards the stimuli tested. PC2 ranged from 'indifferent' to 'agitated/active', indicating the level of emotional arousal, and PC3 ranged from 'aggressive' to 'suspicious' and could be interpreted as an axis of 'aggressiveness — caution' in response to the stimuli. The first PC obtained for each test by using the coding method was significantly correlated with the PC1 of QBA, suggesting that the variations in cats' behavioural and emotional expressions identified by QBA were correlated with the main quantitative outcomes of temperament tests traditionally applied for domestic cats. QBA could be a promising tool for identifying and differentiating cat temperament profiles. Further research is required to assess the potential use of QBA as a feasible and practical method for use in shelters.
In humans, personality is relatively stable across the adult life- span and various situations. Can the same be said of the personality of cats? Primary caregivers of cats thought about their cats in four situations: 1) home alone with the cat, 2) an unknown plumber arrives, 3) during a thunderstorm, and 4) when they had had the cat for six months. In each imagined situation, the 65 female and 28 male caregivers (mean age 38.2 years) rated one of their cats (48 female, 44 male, one unknown, mean age 8.0 years) on 29 adjectives that were collapsed into six dimensions of the behavioral style of the cat: amiability, demandingness, dominance, gullibility, nervousness, and play- fulness. Results indicate that owners’ perceptions of the behavioral style of their cat (except gullibility) were not stable across situations. When home alone with the owner, cats were perceived as more amiable (M = 3.82), demanding (M = 3.33), dominant (M = 3.10), and playful (M = 3.55) and less nervous (M = 2.39) than with a plumber (Mamiable = 2.92, Mdemandingness = 2.36, Mdominance = 2.71, Mplayfulness = 2.77, and Mnervous = 3.60) or during a thunder-storm (Mamiable = 2.98, Mdemandingness = 2.72, Mdominance = 2.56, Mplayfulness = 2.43, and Mnervous = 3.47). These differences are not explained by an overall increase or decrease in cat behavior. The lack of situational stability in per- ceived behavioral styles may limit the applicability of some theories of human personality to cats. Researchers who rely on owners’ ratings of the personal- ity or behavior style of cats should specify the situation during which the owner should rate their cat.
A 9-item, reliable measure of owner satisfaction with their cat, the CatSat, was developed. Item response analysis indicated that the CatSat discriminates lower levels of satisfaction better than higher levels. Correlations between the CatSat and a measure of attachment to the cat (Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale) suggest that satisfaction and attachment are separate but somewhat related constructs. To predict owner satisfaction with their cat from owner personality and the behavioral style of the cat, 225 owners answered the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) Big Five personality test and rated their cat on 29 adjectives which were collapsed into six dimensions of the behavioral style of the cat. Results from a multiple regression analysis suggest that owner satisfaction with their cat is not reliably related to owner personality. Owners’ perceptions of how amiable and demanding their cat was accounted for approximately half of the variability in satisfaction with the cat. Amiable and less demanding cats were related to higher levels of cat satisfaction. There were no statistically reliable interactions between the personality of the owner and the behavioral style of the cat, although some interactions yielded small effect sizes. To increase owner satisfaction, young kittens can be made friendlier by being handled daily during their sensitive period for socialization. Owners might increase their satisfaction with their cat by being careful to not reward demanding behaviors from their cat as such rewards could lead to operant conditioning of demanding behaviors.
Behavioral problems are a major source of poor welfare and premature mortality in companion dogs. Previous studies have demonstrated associations between owners’ personality and psychological status and the prevalence and/or severity of their dogs’ behavior problems. However, the mechanisms responsible for these associations are currently unknown. Other studies have detected links between the tendency of dogs to display behavior problems and their owners’ use of aversive or confrontational training methods. This raises the possibility that the effects of owner personality and psychological status on dog behavior are mediated via their influence on the owner’s choice of training methods. We investigated this hypothesis in a self-selected, convenience sample of 1564 current dog owners using an online battery of questionnaires designed to measure, respectively, owner personality, depression, emotion regulation, use of aversive/confrontational training methods, and owner-reported dog behavior. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses identified modest, positive associations between owners’ use of aversive/confrontational training methods and the prevalence/severity of the following dog behavior problems: owner-directed aggression, stranger-directed aggression, separation problems, chasing, persistent barking, and house-soiling (urination and defecation when left alone). The regression models also detected modest associations between owners’ low scores on four of the ‘Big Five’ personality dimensions (Agreeableness, Emotional Stability, Extraversion & Conscientiousness) and their dogs’ tendency to display higher rates of owner-directed aggression, stranger-directed fear, and/or urination when left alone. The study found only weak evidence to support the hypothesis that these relationships between owner personality and dog behavior were mediated via the owners’ use of punitive training methods, but it did detect a more than five-fold increase in the use of aversive/confrontational training techniques among men with moderate depression. Further research is needed to clarify the causal relationship between owner personality and psychological status and the behavioral problems of companion dogs.
Bullying and cyberbullying are highly prevalent in today’s society. However, the personality profiles of different roles involved in this phenomenon remain little known. This study aims (1) to examine the association between bullying and cyberbullying in adolescents; and (2) to analyze the relationship between bullying and cyberbullying in terms of the domains and facets of the five-factor model (FFM). A total of 910 adolescents aged 12 to 19 years old participated. They were administered self-report assessments of aggression and victimization in bullying and cyberbullying, as well as the JS-NEO-S questionnaire. The results provide evidence of co-occurrence between bullying and cyberbullying ( p < .001). We observed higher neuroticism in victims and aggressor-victims, higher openness in victims, higher agreeableness in victims and non-aggressor non-victims and higher conscientiousness in non-aggressor non-victims as compared with the rest of the groups ( p < .001). Comparison of the four cyberbullying groups showed that cybervictims score higher in neuroticism and openness, cybervictims and non-cybervictims non-cyberaggressors score higher in agreeableness and non-cybervictims non-cyberaggressors score higher in conscientiousness ( p < .001) In conclusion, this study provides a broad, systematic view of the personality traits associated with different roles implicated in traditional bullying and cyberbullying.
The idea of animals possessing personalities was once dismissed by the scientific community, but has since gained traction with evidence for potential application to improve captive animal management and welfare. Although domestic cats are popular companion animals, research has tended to overlook the value of personality assessment for management and care of pet cats. The aim of this study was to investigate personality in a large sample of pet cats with a view to understanding practical implications for pet cats in the home. Personality of 2,802 pet cats, from South Australia and New Zealand, was rated by their owners utilising a survey measuring 52 personality traits. Five reliable personality factors were found using principal axis factor analysis: Neuroticism, Extraversion, Dominance, Impulsiveness and Agreeableness. Implications for the ‘Feline Five’ are discussed in relation to their potential application to improving the management and welfare of pet cats. Highly Impulsive cats for example, may be reacting to something stressful in their environment, whereas cats with low Agreeableness scores, showing irritability may indicate underlying pain or illness. Thus, the need for a systematic and holistic approach to personality that includes both the individual pet cat and its environment is recommended, and opens the door to future interdisciplinary intervention.
Our study evaluated the effects on the prefrontal cortex, especially the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), of people when touching and stroking a real or soft toy cat, using functional near infrared spectroscopy. Thirty under-graduate students (10 males, 20 females) were recruited and performed three tactile tasks with a real cat and a soft toy cat using their right hand. They also filled in the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM), to measure their emotional responses, and the NEO-Five Factor Inventory, to assess their personalities. During the tactile interactions with the real cat, the integral values of oxygenated hemoglobin in the left IFG of the females were significantly greater than in the males. The valence scores of the SAM after the real cat-associated tasks in females were significantly higher than after the toy cat-associated tasks. Additionally, the number of times the females stroked the real cat was significantly positively correlated with the activation levels of the left IFG and the valence scores of the SAM. The activation levels of the left IFG in females were also positively correlated with neuroticism when stroking the real cat. Thus, in females, especially those with higher levels of neuroticism, touching/stroking the cat improved their mood. The effects of interacting with a cat may be different between the genders.
A cross sectional study was conducted to assess the role of dark triads in bullying and victimization behavior in 479 students (boys = 245, girls = 234) (M age = 15.11, SD = 1.24). It was hypothesized that dark triads would be positively related to bullying and victimization. The Adolescent Peer Relations Instruments (Parada, 2000) was used to assess bullying and victimization, and the Short D3 (Jones & Paulhus, 2014) was used to measure three dark triads i.e., machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy. Results indicated that machiavellianism and psychopathy were positively related to bullying and narcissism was positively related to victimization. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to assess the role of dark triads in bullying, controlling for victimization; and role of dark triads in victimization, controlling for bullying, in boys and girls. The results demonstrated that among dark triads only psychopathy positively predicted bullying but none of the dark triads predicted victimization in adolescents. The findings of this work have important implications for school counselors to identify the vulnerable students and develop remedial programs for them.
The goal of the present research is to investigate pet attachment and measure the connection between owner-pet attachment and interpersonal attachment characteristics of dog owners and cat owners, social support and loneliness. From a sample of 268 dog and 97 cat owners, significant differences on pet attachment appeared between pet owners’ gender, owners living location, kinds of pets and the length of ownership. The pedigree of pets influenced owner-pet attachment levels.
The most frequently used measures of personality consist of a large number of items. However, it is their short versions that have enjoyed popularity in recent years. This article is a presentation of the short form of Goldberg's questionnaire for measuring the Big Five personality traits. The questionnaire measures five traits (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, Intellect), and consists of 20 items. It is a shortened version of the 50-item Big Five Markers questionnaire from the resources of the International Personality Item Pool, whose Polish version was prepared by Strus, Cieciuch, and Rowinski (2014b). In constructing the short version, we followed the procedure developed by Donnellan and colleagues (2006), aimed at maximizing the internal consistency and independence of scales. The research was carried out on a group of N = 903 people aged between 16 and 83 years. The validity (verified in confirmatory factor analysis and in the analysis of correlations between the questionnaire's scales and other measures of the five personality traits) and reliability (measured by Cronbach's alpha coefficient) are satisfactory and make the questionnaire fit for use in scientific research.
Simple Summary
Commonly, more adult cats than kittens are euthanized in animal shelters. We surveyed 382 cat adopters to assess adoption outcomes and potential determinants of adopters’ choice of cat age group and price. Most adopters had benevolent motivations for adopting from the shelter and had put considerable thought into the adoption and responsible ownership requirements. However, adult cat adopters were more likely to have been influenced by price than kitten adopters. Adoption outcomes were generally positive in all age and adoption price groups. This study provides evidence to inform the design of strategies to encourage adult cat adoptions.
Abstract
The percentage of adult cats euthanized in animal shelters is greater than that of kittens because adult cats are less likely to be adopted. This study aimed to provide evidence to inform the design of strategies to encourage adult cat adoptions. One such strategy is to discount adoption prices, but there are concerns that this may result in poor adoption outcomes. We surveyed 382 cat adopters at the time of adoption, to assess potential determinants of adopters’ cat age group choice (adult or kitten) and, for adult cat adopters, the price they are willing to pay. The same respondents were surveyed again 6–12 months after the adoption to compare outcomes between cat age groups and between adult cats in two price categories. Most adopters had benevolent motivations for adopting from the shelter and had put considerable thought into the adoption and requirements for responsible ownership. However, adult cat adopters were more likely to have been influenced by price than kitten adopters. Adoption outcomes were generally positive for both adult cats and kittens and for adult cats adopted at low prices. The latter finding alleviates concerns about the outcomes of “low-cost” adoptions in populations, such as the study population, and lends support for the use of “low-cost” adoptions as an option for attempting to increase adoption rates. In addition, the results provide information that can be used to inform future campaigns aimed at increasing the number of adult cat adoptions, particularly in devising marketing strategies for adult cats.
Previous research on the Dark Triad traits (i.e., Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism) has focused solely on the role the Dark Triad traits played in mate choice of actors. The current study (N = 336) extends this by manipulating the apparent levels of Dark Triad traits in targets and correlating mate choice in these targets with individual differences in the Dark Triad traits in actors. As expected, both sexes preferred partners low in the Dark Triad traits for long-term mating, while those high in these traits were preferred for one-night stands. However, women high in psychopathy considered the Dark Triad traits in potential male partners more physically attractive and desirable for an one-night stand, as well as a potential husband. Men who were high on psychopathy were likewise attracted to psychopathy in potential mothers. Our findings are discussed from an evolutionary personality paradigm.
Few studies have examined how personality traits may be related to the amounts and types of attachments humans have toward companion animals (pets). In this study, 1,098 companion animal guardians (owners) completed a survey that included the Big Five Inventory, the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale, and the Pet Attachment Questionnaire. Each participant chose whether he or she identified as a Cat Person, Dog Person, Both, or Neither. Results indicated that neuroticism, conscientiousness, choosing a dog as a favorite pet, and identifying as a Cat Person, Dog Person, or Both predicted affection for a pet. Conscientiousness, extraversion, and openness decreased avoidant attachment to pets, and neuroticism increased anxious attachment to pets. Both dogs and cats could benefit from pet owners who are conscientious, and there may be some benefits of neuroticism in pet owners. The findings of this study will advance understanding of the human-animal bond. As this understanding increases, measurements of human attachment and personality may be useful for the development of tools that could assist shelter employees and veterinarians in counseling people about pet ownership.
An increasing amount of research is being conducted on pet personality, with a variety of goals, from standardization of methodology to development. Most of this work is done on dogs (n = 95), but there is some on cats (n = 24) as well. Very little is done on rabbits or other pets, such as ferrets, or amphibians or reptiles. The work that is being done has improved, with many more researchers reporting reliability and validity for their measures. For dogs, 56.82% of studies reported reliability measures (as compared with 19% in a previous analysis), and 70.45% reported validity measures (as compared with 27% in a previous analysis). However, there is still much work to be done on the standardization of methods both within and across species. This type of research is important as it has the potential to affect the welfare and other health and life outcomes of these animals, as well as elucidating evolutionary relationships that may offer clues to domestication.
Does the quality of the relationship one has with their parents influence the development of “dark” personality traits? We examined (N = 352) the Dark Triad traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) and their components in relation to a measure of parental care and a measure of attachment. Machiavellianism was the most susceptible to variance associated with low quality or irregular parental care and attachment patterns. Low quality parental care for narcissism and psychopathy had effects localized to components of each trait and specific to the sex of the parent. Path modeling suggests the quality of parental care leads to attachment patterns which may then lead to different aspects of the Dark Triad.
Among the Dark Triad of personality, both narcissism and psychopathy have been linked to impulsivity. What remains unclear is the pattern of associations that the Dark Triad have with functional and dysfunctional types of impulsivity. Using both student (N=142) and adult samples (N=329), we investigated the association of the Dark Triad variables with Dickman’s measures of functional and dysfunctional impulsivity. Based on regression analyses, psychopathy was most closely associated with dysfunctional impulsivity whereas narcissism was associated with functional impulsivity. It appears that narcissistic impulsivity involves venturesome social engagement whereas psychopathic impulsivity stems from poor self-regulation. As expected, Machiavellianism had no consistent association with either type of impulsivity. In short, the Dark Triad members show a coherent pattern of relations with impulsivity.
We investigated the extent to which personality match between dog and owner is related to pet satisfaction. Prior research shows that owners relinquish dogs at a high rate, not only in the United States, but also in other countries. New procedures to match owners to future pets could reduce the problem of homeless pets. These were developed after examining the literature to determine all possible traits in dogs and conducting structured interviews to check for further traits. After doing this, 45 traits were determined, and two surveys were created. One survey assessed the personality traits of the dog, and the other assessed the owner's personality traits. In our study, 88 dog owners were asked to report their satisfaction with their self-selected dog and to describe their dog's personality characteristics, based on eight dimensions. Correlations between dog satisfaction scores and dog-owner personality match revealed four characteristics that were significantly associated with satisfaction: tendency to share possessions, love of running outside, likeliness of being destructive, and ability to get along with others. These results suggest that prospective dog owners may want to consider adopting dogs who match their personality on these characteristics. Matching the personality of dogs and their owners on a few characteristics may predict owner satisfaction. This is important as it may reduce the number of dogs that are relinquished by owners as well as the number of dogs left homeless each year.
People scoring high on the Dark Triad traits narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy are believed to get ahead without getting along. The current work positions the Dark Triad into the interpersonal circumplex around Agency/Communion. Two studies (Ns = 184, 186) with self- and peer-ratings indicated that narcissism was inclined towards friendly-dominant, Machiavellianism towards hostile-submissive, and psychopathy towards hostile-dominant when using multiple regressions. The unique location of each Dark Triad member in the interpersonal circumplex is discussed.
The current study (N = 242) seeks to establish the relationship between traits known collectively as the Dark Triad – narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism – and mating standards and preferences. Using a budget-allocation task, we correlated scores on the Dark Triad traits with mate preferences for a long-term and short-term mate. Men scoring high on the Dark Triad may be more indiscriminate than most when selecting for short-term mates in order to widen their prospects. Furthermore, those high on the Dark Triad – psychopathy in particular – tend to select for mates based on self-interest, assortative mating, or a predilection for volatile environments. We assessed these correlations when controlling for the Big Five and the sex of the participant. We also tested for moderation by the sex of the participant and mating context. Ramifications and future directions are considered.Highlights► Men high on the Dark Triad traits have quite low standards in short-term mates. ► Standards in long-term mates were robust to scores on the Dark Triad traits. ► The Dark Triad traits we inversely correlated with preferences for a kind mate.
A behavioral syndrome is a suite of correlated behaviors expressed either within a given behavioral context (e.g., correlations between foraging behaviors in different habitats) or across different contexts (e.g., correlations among feeding, antipredator mating, aggressive, and dispersal behaviors). For example, some individuals (and genotypes) might be generally more aggressive, more active or bold, while others are generally less aggressive, active or bold. This phenomenon has been studied in detail in humans, some primates, laboratory rodents, and some domesticated animals, but has rarely been studied in other organisms, and rarely examined from an evolutionary or ecological perspective. Here, we present an integrative overview on the potential importance of behavioral syndromes in evolution and ecology. A central idea is that behavioral correlations generate tradeoffs; for example, an aggressive genotype might do well in situations where high aggression is favored, but might be inappropriately aggr
Assessment of personality disorders (PD) has been hindered by reliance on the problematic categorical model embodied in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Model of Mental Disorders (DSM), lack of consensus among alternative dimensional models, and inefficient measurement methods. This article describes the rationale for and early results from a multiyear study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health that was designed to develop an integrative and comprehensive model and efficient measure of PD trait dimensions. To accomplish these goals, we are in the midst of a 5-phase project to develop and validate the model and measure. The results of Phase 1 of the project--which was focused on developing the PD traits to be assessed and the initial item pool--resulted in a candidate list of 59 PD traits and an initial item pool of 2,589 items. Data collection and structural analyses in community and patient samples will inform the ultimate structure of the measure, and computerized adaptive testing will permit efficient measurement of the resultant traits. The resultant Computerized Adaptive Test of Personality Disorder (CAT-PD) will be well positioned as a measure of the proposed DSM-5 PD traits. Implications for both applied and basic personality research are discussed.
Machiavellianism, Narcissism and Psychopathy are often referred to as the ‘dark triad’ of personality. We examined the degree to which these constructs could be identified in 82 persons recruited from the general population, predicting that the dark triad would emerge as a single dimension denoting the cardinal interpersonal elements of primary psychopathy. We expected the primary psychopathy dimension to correlate negatively with Agreeableness (A) and Conscientiousness (C), whereas secondary psychopathy would be associated with Neuroticism (N). The negative correlation was found between primary psychopathy and A, but not with C. While the predicted correlation between secondary psychopathy and N was found, N was also positively associated with primary psychopathy and Machiavellianism. Factor analysis revealed that all measures of the dark triad loaded positively on the same factor, upon which A loaded negatively. Secondary psychopathy loaded positively on a second factor, together with N and (negatively) with C. These findings reiterate the distinguishing properties of secondary psychopathy, impulsivity and anti-social behaviour relative to primary psychopathy. Thus, even in the general population, the dark dimension of personality can be described in terms of low A, whereas much of the anti-social behaviour in normal persons appears underpinned by high N and low C.
Of the offensive yet non-pathological personalities in the literature, three are especially prominent: Machiavellianism, subclinical narcissism, and subclinical psychopathy. We evaluated the recent contention that, in normal samples, this ‘Dark Triad’ of constructs are one and the same. In a sample of 245 students, we measured the three constructs with standard measures and examined a variety of laboratory and self-report correlates. The measures were moderately inter-correlated, but certainly were not equivalent. Their only common Big Five correlate was disagreeableness. Subclinical psychopaths were distinguished by low neuroticism; Machiavellians, and psychopaths were low in conscientiousness; narcissism showed small positive associations with cognitive ability. Narcissists and, to a lesser extent, psychopaths exhibited self-enhancement on two objectively scored indexes. We conclude that the Dark Triad of personalities, as currently measured, are overlapping but distinct constructs.
Three methods of personality assessment (behavior measures, behavior ratings, adjective ratings) were compared in 20 zoo-housed Great Apes: bonobos (Pan paniscus), chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus), gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), and orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus abelii). To test a new bottom-up approach, the studied trait constructs were systematically generated from the species’ behavioral repertoires. The assessments were reliable, temporally stable, and showed substantial cross-method coherence. In most traits, behavior ratings mediated the relations between adjective ratings and behavior measures. Results suggest that high predictability of manifest behavior is best achieved by behavior ratings, not by adjectives. Empirical evidence for trait constructs beyond current personality models points to the necessity of broad and systematic approaches for valid inferences on a species’ personality structure.
There has been an exponential increase of interest in the dark side of human nature during the last decade. To better understand this dark side, the authors developed and validated a concise, 12-item measure of the Dark Triad: narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism. In 4 studies involving 1,085 participants, they examined its structural reliability, convergent and discriminant validity (Studies 1, 2, and 4), and test-retest reliability (Study 3). Their measure retained the flexibility needed to measure these 3 independent-yet-related constructs while improving its efficiency by reducing its item count by 87% (from 91 to 12 items). The measure retained its core of disagreeableness, short-term mating, and aggressiveness. They call this measure the Dirty Dozen, but it cleanly measures the Dark Triad.
Decades of research suggest that similarity in demographics, values, activities, and attitudes predicts higher marital satisfaction. The present study examined the relationship between similarity in Big Five personality factors and initial levels and 12-year trajectories of marital satisfaction in long-term couples, who were in their 40s and 60s at the beginning of the study. Across the entire sample, greater overall personality similarity predicted more negative slopes in marital satisfaction trajectories. In addition, spousal similarity on Conscientiousness and Extraversion more strongly predicted negative marital satisfaction outcomes among the midlife sample than among the older sample. Results are discussed in terms of the different life tasks faced by young, midlife, and older adults, and the implications of these tasks for the "ingredients" of marital satisfaction.
Studies of homogamy in personality in heterosexual couples have arrived at inconsistent results and research of this issue in same-sex couples is almost non-existent. Moreover, homogamy in actual couples can differ from preferred homogamy in ideal partners. In Study 1, preferences for personality homogamy and perceived homogamy in actual relationships as measured by a Ten-Item Personality Inventory were assessed in heterosexual and homosexual men from Brazil and the Czech Republic. In men of both sexual orientations, we found preferences for homogamy in all personality characteristics except for Emotional Stability, while perceived homogamy in actual couples was limited to Extraversion in heterosexual couples. The results were nearly identical for both studied populations.
Characteristics of the human-animal bond can be influenced by both owner-related and pet-related factors, which likely differ between species. Three studies adapted the Monash Dog-Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS) to permit assessment of human-cat interactions as perceived by the cat’s owner. In Study 1,293 female cat owners completed a modified version of the MDORS, where ‘dog’ was replaced with ‘cat’ for all items. Responses were compared with a matched sample of female dog owners. A partial least squares discriminant analysis revealed systematic differences between cat and dog owners in the Dog (Cat)-Owner Interaction subscale (MDORS subscale 1), but not for Perceived Emotional Closeness or Perceived Costs (Subscales 2 and 3). Study 2 involved analysis of free-text descriptions of cat-owner interactions provided by 61 female cat owners. Text mining identified key words which were used to create additional questions for a new Cat-Owner Interaction subscale. In Study 3, the resulting cat-owner relationship scale (CORS) was tested in a group of 570 cat owners. The main psychometric properties of the scale, including internal consistency and factor structure, were evaluated. We propose that this scale can be used to accurately assess owner perceptions of their relationship with their cat. A modified scale, combining items from the CORS and MDORS (a C/DORS), is also provided for when researchers would find it desirable to compare human-cat and human-dog interactions.
Understanding individual behavioral differences in domestic cats could lead to improved selection when potential cat owners choose a pet with whom to share their lives, along with consequent improvements in cat welfare. Yet very few attempts have been made to elicit cat personality dimensions using the trait-based exploratory approaches applied previously, with some success, to humans and dogs. In this study, a list of over 200 adjectives used to describe cat personality was assembled. This list was refined by two focus groups. A sample of 416 adult cat owners then rated a cat they knew well on each of 118 retained words. An iterative analytical approach was used to identify 29 words which formed six personality dimensions: Playfulness, Nervousness, Amiability, Dominance, Demandingness, and Gullibility. Chronbach's alpha scores for these dimensions ranged from 0.63 to 0.8 and, together, they explained 56.08% of the total variance. Very few significant correlations were found between participant scores on the personality dimensions and descriptive variables such as owner age, cat age and owner cat-owning experience, and these were all weak to barely moderate in strength (r ≤ 0.30). There was also only one significant group difference based on cat sex. Importantly, however, several cat personality scores were moderately (r = 0.3-0.49) or strongly (r ≥ 0.5) correlated with simple measures of satisfaction with the cat, attachment, bond quality, and the extent to which the cat was perceived to be troublesome. The results suggest that, with further validation, this scale could be used to provide a simple, tick-box, assessment of an owner's perceptions regarding a cat's personality. This may be of value in both applied and research settings.
This review article covers research conducted over the last three decades on cat-human and human-cat interactions and relationships, especially from an ethological point of view. It includes findings on cat-cat and cat-human communication, cat personalities and cat-owner personalities, the effects of cats on humans, and problems caused by cats.
Factors that contribute to the selection and non-selection of cats by potential adopters were examined. A survey sent by email was conducted of cat adopters who completed the adoption process during 2011 at Loudoun County Animal Services located in Waterford, Virginia. The survey addressed the reasons people gave for adopting their cat as well as cat and environmental factors. A response rate of 41% (n=97) was achieved and all responses were used for analysis. The results indicate that adopters primarily choose a cat for companionship and that cat behavioral factors such as playfulness and willingness to interact with the adopter are the main criteria used in the adoption decision. Cage location also plays a role in the selection process. Together these findings suggest that to increase adoption rates, shelters should focus their efforts on improving cat sociability and enhancing opportunities for adopters to view and interact with cats.
Few studies have looked at assortative mating for the Dark Triad (i.e., Machiavellianism, psychopathy and narcissism), or assortative mating for facial characteristics related to personality. In two studies (n's = 302 and 262), we investigated whether women scoring high in the Dark Triad exhibited a preference for high and low Dark Triad male composite faces. In Study 1, using a two alternative forced-choice task and a short Dark Triad scale, there was little evidence for assortative mating. In Study 2, utilising a rating scale, longer personality measures, and controlling for perceptions of aggression, masculinity and dominance, we found positive assortative mating for narcissism in long-term relationships. Findings are discussed from evolutionary psychological perspective.
Associations between mammalian coat color and behavior have been investigated in a number of species, most notably the study of silver foxes by the Institute of Cytology and Genetics at the Russian Academy of Sciences. However, the few studies conducted regarding a potential relation between coat color and domestic cat personality have shown mixed results, even though many people believe that differently colored cats have distinct personalities. Understanding how humans might perceive personality in relation to coat color may have important ramifications regarding whether cats are relinquished to shelters or adopted from them. In order to assess human perceptions of differently colored cats, we conducted an anonymous, online survey, using a 7-point Likert scale and 10 terms describing personality traits that were chosen based on previous studies of animal personality. This survey examined how people assigned these given terms (active, aloof, bold, calm, friendly, intolerant, shy, stubborn, tolerant, and trainable) to five different colors of cats (orange, tricolored, white, black, and bi-colored). There were significant differences in how participants in this study chose to assign personality terms to differently colored cats. For example, participants (n = 189) were more likely to attribute the trait “friendliness” to orange cats, “intolerance” to tri-colored cats, and “aloofness” to white and tri-colored cats. No significant differences were found for “stubbornness” in any colors of cats. White cats were seen as less bold and active and more shy and calm than other colors of cats. While survey respondents stated that they placed more importance on personality than color when selecting a companion cat, there is some evidence that they believe the two qualities are linked. We anticipate our findings will be relevant to further study in domestic cat personality and to those who work in animal rescue, particularly in how shelters promote differently colored cats and educate potential adopters.
Abstract Research examining the interpersonal interactions of those high on the Dark Triad has proliferated in recent years. Extant research, however, has not examined other types of relationships such as attitudes and behaviors towards animals. Further, there has been limited research examining the associations between personality and attitudes and behaviors towards animals generally. In this study, participants (N = 227) completed an online survey measuring the Dark Triad, attitudes towards animals, and acts of animal cruelty. The results revealed that individuals with higher levels of the Dark Triad demonstrated less positive attitudes towards animals and reported engaging in more acts of animal cruelty. Age and sex were found to be significant predictors of less positive attitudes and behaviors towards animals, independent of the Dark Triad. These results suggest that those callous and manipulative behaviors and attitudes that have come to be associated with the Dark Triad are not just limited to human-to-human interactions, but are also consistent across other interactions.
The evolutionary continuity between humans and other animals suggests that some dimensions of personality may be common across a wide range of species. Unfortunately, there is no unified body of research on animal personality; studies are dispersed across multiple disciplines and diverse journals. To review 19 studies of personality factors in 12 nonhuman species, we used the human Five-Factor Model plus Dominance and Activity as a preliminary framework. Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Agreeableness showed the strongest cross-species generality, followed by Openness; a separate Conscientiousness dimension appeared only in chimpanzees, humans' closest relatives. Cross-species evidence was modest for a separate Dominance dimension but scant for Activity. The comparative approach taken here offers a fresh perspective on human personality and should facilitate hypothesis-driven research on the social and biological bases of personality.
We have determined the extent to which individual responses of domestic cats on being handled by an unfamiliar person are stable between 2 and 33 months of age. Twenty-nine household cats from nine litters were tested at 2, 4, 12, 24 and 33 months of age, by being held for 1 minute by a standard, unfamiliar person. Between 4 and 33 months of age, individual differences in the number of attempts made by the cat to escape, and in whether or not it showed signs of distress, were stable, with the partial exception of the test at 12 months. There was no consistency between tests in whether or not a particular cat purred. At 2 months of age, the number of escape attempts was highest in cats which had been handled the least in the second month of life, but this trend was reversed in the number of escape attempts made at 4 months. The lack of distress exhibited by all cats in the test at 2 months indicated that all had received at least adequate socialization to people, and that none were therefore comparable with the unsocialized cats used in several previous studies. We conclude that under normal domestic conditions, the behavior of a cat when handled by an unfamiliar person reflects a stable character trait, and that extensive handling during the socialization period may be subsequently associated with a reduction in inhibited behavior when interacting with an unfamiliar person.
This study reports the first behavioral genetic investigation of the three Dark Triad variables (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) and their relationships with the Big 5 personality traits. A total of 278 adult twins completed questionnaire measures of the Dark Triad and the Big 5. Consistent with some previous studies, we found significant correlations among some of the Dark Triad variables and between each of the Dark Triad variables and some of the Big 5. To the extent that these variables were correlated at the phenotypic level, these correlations were largely attributable to correlated genetic factors. At the univariate level, all traits showed the influence of genetic and non-shared environmental factors, with heritabilities ranging between .31 and .72; Machiavellianism alone also showed the influence of shared environmental factors.
Because of the contradictory nature of findings and methodological weaknesses identified within current human-companion animal bond research, there is a need to further explore the connection between human-animal bonds and mental health.
The purpose of this survey questionnaire study was to explore the relationship of attachment to companion animal and human psychological distress after controlling for demographic variables, and to investigate whether the relationship between social supports and psychological distress would be moderated by attachment to a companion animal.
Results highlight the psychological vulnerability of individuals reporting a strong bond with their companion animal.
These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for mental health services designed to anticipate and address client-related companion animal needs.
Human-cat dyads may be similar in interaction structure to human dyads because many humans regard their cats as being social companions. Consequently, we predict that dyadic structure will be contingent on owner and cat personalities, sex, and age as well as duration of cohabitation of the partners. Forty owner-cat dyads were visited in their homes, on four occasions, during which their behaviours and interactions were video-taped. Behaviour was coded from tape and was analysed for temporal (t)-patterns using Theme (Noldus; Magnusson, 1996). Owner personality was assessed using the NEO-FFI. Five cat personality axes were identified by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) based on observer-rated items and on coded behaviours. We found that the higher the owner in neuroticism, the fewer t-patterns occurred per minute. The higher the owner in extraversion, the higher was the number of non-overlapping patterns per minute. The more "active" the cat, the fewer non-overlapping patterns occurred per minute, but the higher was the event type complexity. The older the cat, the lower was dyadic event type complexity. We suggest that basic temporal structures similar to those of human-cat dyads may also be found in other long-term and complex dyadic relationships, including those between humans.
Despite the widespread practice of keeping companion animals, virtually no consumer behavior studies have been conducted on this phenomenon. The present inquiry uses detailed depth interviews with consumers to expand three a priori themes--animals as friends, animals as self, and animals as family members--and to discuss two emergent themes: (1) companion animals' mediation between nature and culture, and (2) the socialization of consumers' companion animal preference patterns. Building on this knowledge, several directions for future research on companion animals are discussed. Copyright 1994 by the University of Chicago.
The return of a recently adopted companion animal places the nonhuman animal in jeopardy and may be painful and frustrating to the humans involved. However, if returners learn from the failed adoption experience, future adoptions may be more satisfactory for all concerned. In this study, 78 people who had adopted and returned dogs or cats to an animal shelter in a U.S. Midwestern city were interviewed regarding their reasons for return, reactions to the experience, and plans for future adoptions. Although some returners adjusted their pet ownership plans in potentially beneficial ways, most reacted by counseling greater forethought and planning before adopting. The last, although sound advice, had little to do with reasons for return, which primarily were problems that arose postadoption: pet behavior such as not getting along with other pets or children. Changing expectations about the development of new pet-family relationships and the provision of postadoption services might help adopters tolerate the adjustment period and handle problems without resorting to returning the animal.
Personality ratings of 196 cats were made by their owners using a 5-point Likert scale anchored by 1: not at all and 5: a great deal with 12 items: timid, friendly, curious, sociable, obedient, clever, protective, active, independent, aggressive, bad-tempered, and emotional. A principal components analysis with varimax rotation identified three intepretable components. Component I had high loadings by active, clever, curious, and sociable. Component II had high loadings by emotional, friendly, and protective, Component III by aggressive and bad-tempered, and Component IV by timid. Sex was not associated with any component, but age showed a weak negative correlation with Component I. Older animals were rated less social and curious than younger animals.
More people own pets than ever before. Further, people spend more money on pets than they ever have. The increase in pet ownership and spending on pets provides evidence of the importance humans place on the pets in their lives. This study explores the relationships between humans and their animal companions, specifically canine companions. Drawing on decades of research on personality, relationships, and well-being, the current research takes a cross-species approach to examine the influence of pet personalities on human outcomes. Using personality assessments for human and dog, the article examines how both personalities impact relationship satisfaction. The article also examines how human-dog closeness impacts owner well-being. Some findings corroborate results found in the human personality and relationship literature, but others point to some unique aspects of the human-dog bond. These results not only shed light on the human-dog relationship but also suggest some departures from the human relationship literature that could be explored in future research.
Meet Your Match Feline-alities
ASPCA (2018). Meet Your Match Feline-alities. Retrieved March 28, 2018, from https://
www.aspcapro.org/resource/saving-lives-adoption-programs-behavior-enrichment/
meet-your-match-feline-alities.
The study of domestic cat (Felis catus) personality based on survey in Poland
- T Kaleta
- N Borkowska
- K Goral-Radziszewska
Kaleta, T., Borkowska, N., & Goral-Radziszewska, K. (2016). The study of domestic cat
(Felis catus) personality based on survey in Poland. Annals of Warsaw University of Life
Sciences-SGGW. Animal Science, 55(1), 39-46.
Successful and unsuccessful pet adoptions
- Kidd
Kidd, A. H., Kidd, R. M., & George, C. C. (1992). Successful and unsuccessful pet adoptions. Psychological Reports, 70(2), 547-561. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1992.70.2.
547.
The Waltham book of human-animal interaction: Benefits and responsibilities of pet ownership
- I Robinson
Robinson, I. (Ed.). (2013). The Waltham book of human-animal interaction: Benefits and
responsibilities of pet ownership. Oxford, UK: Elsevier.
Measuring personality in nonhuman animals
- S Vazire
- S D Gosling
- A S Dickey
- S J Schapiro
Vazire, S., Gosling, S. D., Dickey, A. S., & Schapiro, S. J. (2009). Measuring personality in
nonhuman animals. In R. W. Robins, R. C. Fraley, & R. F. Krueger (Eds.). Handbook of
Research Methods in Personality Psychology (pp. 190-206). New York, NY: Guilford
Press.
Keeping pets (dogs and cats) in homes: A three-phase retention study
- American Humane Association
Measuring personality in nonhuman animals
- Vazire
The study of domestic cat (Felis catus) personality based on survey in Poland
- Kaleta