Psychologists from HSE University Discovered How Love for Animals Affects Relationships with People
Researchers from HSE University have identified a connection between attachment to pets and attitudes toward nature and other people. The study found that the more joy people derive from interacting with their pets, the more they want to help others. However, love for animals is not always associated with concern for nature. The findings were published in the Social Psychology and Society journal.
In recent years, the social aspects of living with animals have become an increasingly popular topic among scientists, who have found connections between a person's attitude toward their pets and their interactions with society. However, it remained unclear how love for pets affected a person's attitudes toward others and the natural world. To explore this, researchers from HSE University examined how animals influence our sense of belonging to the natural world (ecological identity) and adherence to moral standards and ethical behaviours (moral motives).
Ecological identity refers to a person's sense of connection with nature and awareness of their place in the ecosystem. People with a strong ecological identity tend to care about animals, plants, and even inanimate nature, demonstrating responsibility toward future generations.
Moral motives are internal principles that guide our behaviour toward others. They include helping, avoiding harm, and striving for social justice and order.
Can love for pets help us treat other humans and the world with compassion, or is it a feeling directed solely at one creature? To answer this question, researchers from the HSE School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, surveyed 284 people with an average age of 25 years. The participants completed standardised questionnaires, including the modified Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale, the Ecological Identity Scale, and the Moral Motives Scale.
The researchers found that attachment to pets was indeed associated with prosocial personality traits. For example, the more joy a person derived from interacting with their pet, the more likely they are to avoid conflicts, help others and not harm them. However, the link between pet love and ecological identity was less strong than expected.
‘Attachment to pets can indeed promote prosocial behaviour in people,’ comments Sofya Nartova-Bochaver, co-author of the study and Head of the HSE Laboratory for the Psychology of Salutogenic Environment. ‘However, this relationship is more complex than it may seem. For example, recognising pets' rights and the happiness derived from interaction with them does not necessarily enhance ecological identity. In other words, loving animals does not always lead to a broader love for nature and the world at large.’
According to the researchers, attachment to pets affects a person's empathy. This finding supports the use of educational practices related to animal care.
The researchers intend to replicate the test results of the Russian study in other countries. They are planning a cross-cultural study in collaboration with colleagues from India, Italy, and Poland.
See also:
Researchers Examine Student Care Culture in Small Russian Universities
Researchers from the HSE Institute of Education conducted a sociological study at four small, non-selective universities and revealed, based on 135 interviews, the dual nature of student care at such institutions: a combination of genuine support with continuous supervision, reminiscent of parental care. This study offers the first in-depth look at how formal and informal student care practices are intertwined in the post-Soviet educational context. The study has been published in the British Journal of Sociology of Education.
AI Can Predict Student Academic Performance Based on Social Media Subscriptions
A team of Russian researchers, including scientists from HSE University, used AI to analyse 4,500 students’ subscriptions to VK social media communities. The study found that algorithms can accurately identify both high-performing students and those struggling with their studies. The paper has been published in IEEE Access.
HSE Scientists: Social Cues in News Interfaces Build Online Trust
Researchers from the HSE Laboratory for Cognitive Psychology of Digital Interface Users have discovered how social cues in the design of news websites—such as reader comments, the number of reposts, or the author’s name—can help build user trust. An experiment with 137 volunteers showed that such interface elements make a website appear more trustworthy and persuasive to users, with the strongest cue being links to the media’s social networks. The study's findings have been published in Human-Computer Interaction.
Immune System Error: How Antibodies in Multiple Sclerosis Mistake Their Targets
Researchers at HSE University and the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IBCh RAS) have studied how the immune system functions in multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease in which the body's own antibodies attack its nerve fibres. By comparing blood samples from MS patients and healthy individuals, scientists have discovered that the immune system in MS patients can mistake viral proteins for those of nerve cells. Several key proteins have also been identified that could serve as new biomarkers for the disease and aid in its diagnosis. The study has been published in Frontiers in Immunology. The research was conducted with support from the Russian Science Foundation.
Scientists Develop Effective Microlasers as Small as a Speck of Dust
Researchers at HSE University–St Petersburg have discovered a way to create effective microlasers with diameters as small as 5 to 8 micrometres. They operate at room temperature, require no cooling, and can be integrated into microchips. The scientists relied on the whispering gallery effect to trap light and used buffer layers to reduce energy leakage and stress. This approach holds promise for integrating lasers into microchips, sensors, and quantum technologies. The study has been published in Technical Physics Letters.
HSE Scientists Test New Method to Investigate Mechanisms of New Word Acquisition
Researchers at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain were among the first to use transcranial alternating current stimulation to investigate whether it can influence the acquisition of new words. Although the authors of the experiment have not yet found a link between brain stimulation and word acquisition, they believe that adjusting the stimulation parameters may yield different results in the future. The study has been published in Language, Cognition and Neuroscience.
Twenty vs Ten: HSE Researcher Examines Origins of Numeral System in Lezgic Languages
It is commonly believed that the Lezgic languages spoken in Dagestan and Azerbaijan originally used a vigesimal numeral system, with the decimal system emerging later. However, a recent analysis of numerals in various dialects, conducted by linguist Maksim Melenchenko from HSE University, suggests that the opposite may be true: the decimal system was used originally, with the vigesimal system developing later. The study has been published in Folia Linguistica.
Scientists Rank Russian Regions by Climate Risk Levels
Researchers from HSE University and the Russian Academy of Sciences have assessed the levels of climate risks across Russian regions. Using five key climate risks—heatwaves, water stress, wildfires, extreme precipitation, and permafrost degradation—the scientists ranked the country’s regions according to their need for adaptation to climate change. Krasnoyarsk Krai, Irkutsk Region, and Sverdlovsk Region rank among the highest for four of the five climate risks considered. The study has been published in Science of the Total Environment.
HSE Researchers Teach Neural Network to Distinguish Origins from Genetically Similar Populations
Researchers from the AI and Digital Science Institute, HSE Faculty of Computer Science, have proposed a new approach based on advanced machine learning techniques to determine a person’s genetic origin with high accuracy. This method uses graph neural networks, which make it possible to distinguish even very closely related populations.
HSE Economists Reveal the Secret to Strong Families
Researchers from the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences have examined the key factors behind lasting marriages. The findings show that having children is the primary factor contributing to marital stability, while for couples without children, a greater income gap between spouses is associated with a stronger union. This is the conclusion reported in Applied Econometrics.