Why do children tend to be so cruel towerd animals?

Question

i've noticed that children between 6 and 15/16 years tend to be very cruel with animals,i'd like to know why that is and how can it be prevented.

Answer 1

It has nothing to do with compassion or empathy. And it isn't all children, but a few of them. Most kids I've come in contact with have a natural curiosity and love for animals, myself (as a boy) and my children included.

Some kids, and admittedly this is on the increase of late, demonstrate a cruelty towards animals and this comes from their own experiences of abuse. Then again, as in the case of the spontaneously cruel, like Jeffery Dahmer and the like, it is a precursor to abusing and/or killing humans; a ramp up so to speak. This is the exception; an unusual occurrence. It is not the rule.

Most kids however, do not need to be taught 'compassion' or 'empathy' or any of the other things that come naturally to them; modern day parents just feel the need to tinker. They are responsible for all of these invented mental disorders of the day such as ADD, etc., creating a generation of zombified kids who act like Stepford Wives. These people need to be slapped or otherwise abused, because they are really messing things up and creating a world of future psychos.

Kids have a natural, inborn love for animals and parents should leave well enough alone. If you are seeing a LOT of kids who are demonstrating cruelty to animals, there is something up in your area. It's not the norm.

Answer 2

I have 4 boys ages 4, 6, 8, 10 and they are and have always been very gentle with animals. I am not one of those people who say Oh, It's just an animal. They are defenseless and should not be abused by people- child or not. They are our responsibility to enjoy and protect. I never even allowed them to harass an animal when they were crawling babies. We have 4 cats, 3 dogs and 2 goats- maybe that's why- they have just always had them around. They are part of our family. I think children are mean to animals when they are allowed to be and are never taught any better or been disciplined when they were mean. If my kids were mean to an animal they would be in big trouble.

Answer 3

In the case of the 6 year olds, most of their behaviors are learned they either have seen someone else treating animals badly. But the older kids are just trying to act like they are tough, and feel that if they pick on a creature that wont fight back, they will look even tougher.

Answer 4

My children have never been cruel toward any animal at any age. They do have to be taught not to be cruel to animals. Its the failure on the parents part to not instill that behaviour in their children at an early age.

Answer 5

children have to be taught by their parents or friends to show kindness to animals or they will never learn it. Children should be taken to the zoo or petting farms or have a family pet if allowed. All children want animals but in reality someone older will have to take over the care of the animal. Parents should never make a pet buy just because their young child wants one they have to be willing to nurture the animal and to teach their children care and compassion with their animal.

Answer 6

curiousity and ignorance. Some children are not taught that animals have feelings and can feel pain. Teaching a child early to respect animals is the best thing to do. When you see a child mistreating an animal ask them,"how would you feel if someone did that to you?" animals are no different.

Answer 7

These children have not been taught by their parents to treat animals with compassion and respect. This is not true of MOST kids this age and can actually be a sign of mental instability. When a child fails to empathize with an animal something is wrong.

Answer 8

Its a power thing, children spend their daily lives being told what to do so they vent their frustrations on animals because they cant tell on you. I think to prevent this is to not allow kids to have pets but then again not all kids do this. Carrying out these actions must be the manifestation of a deeper lying issue

Answer 9

I personally feel it's because they were never raised to have an apprecation for animals, and to understand that there is a need to care for them, and treat them kindly. Most children who are this way, also have parents who have no regard for animal life

Answer 10

Adding to "inappropriate upbringing" and "they don't know animals can feel things too", I will say that in my observation most children who are intentionally cruel to animals... grow into adults who are intentionally cruel to animals. Adults just sometimes hide it better.