Andre Crozier

Thesis Name

Thesis Abstract

Altruism is the motivation to help another being without the expectation of personal gain and is underpinned by empathy. However, while close interactions between a person and their pet have been shown to result in improved prosocial behaviour towards other people, it is unknown if this outcome would be the same if the target recipient was a nonhuman animal. The current research investigates how pets influence the altruistic motivation of their owners to help other animals beyond the household.

Why My Research is Important/Impacts

This research will fill a gap in the academic literature on the psychological mechanisms underpinning human-animal altruism. Understanding our motivations to help animals is critical, as it frames human-animal interaction and helps mitigate many negative implications for animals commonly associated with major human activities. In addition to strengthening the connection between humans and animals through greater awareness and knowledge, the outcomes of this research may also benefit not-for-profit organisations involved with helping animals, such as animal charities, animal welfare groups, and wildlife conservation societies, by helping them calibrate and improve their campaigns to recruit volunteers and fundraise.