Kurdek Lawrence A
Wright State University.
J Fam Psychol. 2009 Aug;23(4):439-46. doi: 10.1037/a0014979.
This study assessed the extent to which, and under what conditions, owners turn to their pet dogs in times of emotional distress. This feature of an attachment figure-safe haven-is a key characteristic of an attachment bond. Participants (N = 975, mean age = 47.95 years, 789 women and 186 men) were relatively dedicated dog owners who completed an online survey. Relative to other features of an attachment figure, safe haven was the least salient. Nonetheless, participants were more likely to turn to their dogs than they were to turn to their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, best friends, and children but less likely to turn to their dogs than to their romantic partners. Characteristics of both owners (being male, widowed, highly involved in the care of the dog, and uncomfortable with self-disclosure) and dogs (strongly meeting owner's needs regarding relatedness) heightened the likelihood that dogs were turned to rather than some humans. It is concluded that some owners develop attachment bonds with their pet dogs.
本研究评估了在何种程度以及在什么情况下，宠物狗主人在情绪困扰时会向他们的宠物狗寻求慰藉。依恋对象的这一特征——安全避风港——是依恋关系的一个关键特征。参与者（N = 975，平均年龄 = 47.95岁，789名女性和186名男性）是相对忠诚的狗主人，他们完成了一项在线调查。相对于依恋对象的其他特征，安全避风港是最不显著的。尽管如此，参与者向狗寻求慰藉的可能性高于向母亲、父亲、兄弟、姐妹、最好的朋友和孩子寻求慰藉的可能性，但低于向他们的浪漫伴侣寻求慰藉的可能性。主人（男性、丧偶、高度参与狗的照料以及不善于自我表露）和狗（强烈满足主人在亲密关系方面的需求）的特征都增加了主人向狗而非某些人类寻求慰藉的可能性。研究得出结论，一些主人与他们的宠物狗建立了依恋关系。
