| Abstrakt: |
Pit bulls are a type of dog that is often misunderstood by the public due to prevailing stereotypes in popular culture. These stereotypes wrongly claim that these dogs are dangerous and have greater bite strength than other dogs. Scientific research demonstrates that no truth exists in these common stereotypes (Cohen & Richardson, 2002; Patronek et al., 2000). This literature review seeks to debunk the myths about pit bulls and address the psychological dilemmas inherent in the discrimination against them. Science shows that these dogs face more discrimination than dogs who do not fit this label. For example, people are less likely to adopt pit-bull-type dogs, which creates undue stress for both the dogs and animal rescue workers (Gunter et al., 2016; Hoffman et al., 2014). Additionally, those who own pit-bull-type dogs must often deal with discrimination in housing, insurance, and travel (Collier, 2006; Cunningham, 2004). These restrictive and discriminatory regulations create psychological turmoil for those individuals who must cope with them (Twining et al., 2000). The clinical consequences of this discrimination is explored and a case study for pit bulls' efficacy as therapy animals is highlighted. With training in both animal and human behavior, psychologists have a special mandate to educate the public that these dogs are no more likely to do harm than any other type of canine. By using their education to advocate for these animals and the humans who care about them, psychologists can improve mental health outcomes both for dogs and for the humans who love them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
