Human-Companion Animal Social Relationships

Authors

  • Joan Behrick Digges California State University,Bakersfíeld

Abstract

The importance of relationships to influence the well-being of clients constitutes a core value upon which the ethical foundation of the social work profession is built. This narrative seeks to expand the concept of this core value to include social relationships between humans and companion animals, suggesting that the human companion animal bond can complement and indeed substitute for human-to-human relationships in certain vulnerable human populations. The human-companion animal relationship may serve a significant survival function on a basic neurobiological level. Integrating knowledge from neuroscience with the social sciences may lead to a new appreciation of the potential for relationships between humans and their companion animals to be mutually beneficial. Note: Patients' names were changed to maintain confidentiality.

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How to Cite

Digges, J. B. (2014). Human-Companion Animal Social Relationships. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 15(1), 35–41. Retrieved from https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/855

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Section

General Submissions