The Psychology of Human Animal Relationships

Students in this course undertake a critical analysis of the psychological dynamic between human and non-human animals. They explore what psychological science has discovered about animal consciousness, cognition, language, intelligence, emotion, motivation, and morality. As students form a grounding in how these capacities evolved in non-human animals, they will examine where we, as human animals, position ourselves in their world, and where non-human animals might position themselves in ours. Students delve into the scientific literature on the impact of animals on human health, animal and human attachment, the use of animals in psychological science, animal assisted therapy, and animal abuse and its association with other forms of violent behaviour directed at humans.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum "C-" grade in PSYC 1115 and 1215.