Pets as safe havens and secure bases: The moderating role of pet attachment orientations

Sigal Zilcha-Mano, Mario Mikulincer, Phillip R. Shaver

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We examined the extent to which a pet functions as an attachment figure. In Study 1, 165 pet owners performed a goal exploration task, assessing the number of life goals generated and confidence in goal attainment. In Study 2, 120 pet owners performed a distress-eliciting task while assessing blood pressure. In both studies, participants were divided into three conditions: pet physical presence, pet cognitive presence, and no pet presence. As compared to no pet presence, physical or cognitive pet presence increased the number of life goals generated and self-confidence in goal attainment and reduced blood pressure during the distress-eliciting task. The findings confirm the ability of a pet to provide a safe-haven and a secure-base and the moderating role of attachment insecurities.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)571-580
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Research in Personality
Volume46
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Attachment
  • Cardiovascular reactivity
  • Exploration
  • Human-animal bond
  • Human-animal interactions
  • Pet
  • Stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • General Psychology

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