what is the reason why people conduct animal fighting, such as cockfighting, dog fighting, bear versus dogs?

Question

I want a scientific and academic answer

Answer 1

It's called sadism.

Answer 2

I can't give you an academic/scientific answer as I am not that type. I don't know about the three you mentioned above but I do know quite a bit about hogs versus dogs if you care to hear it.

My ancestors came to Louisiana in 1855. The country was dense and in order to control the livestock they brought with them they also brought their dogs. Twice a year they would round up their livestock (cattle and hogs) using their dogs to do so. The dog was a very valueable asset. As late as 1963 me and my family wer still rounding up hogs and cattle using our dogs twice a year. A good stock dog was very valueable even then.

Gradually the open range ended and people not longer live off the livestock on the open range but the tradition of training the dogs and watching them work has remained. I train border collies to round up cattle but I could just as easily be training hounds to round up hogs. Hogs are very dangerous and it takes a very well trained dog to bay a hog without getting hurt

In short it is an attempt to preserve a part of our heritage and pass it on to other generations.

If you want a good literary version of what I talking about read Old Yeller, The Yearling and Where the Red Fern Grows. Each of those books......and the movies also.......have excellent discription of working dogs in dense undergrowth.

Answer 3

I think it deals with society's need for control and dominance. Watching animals destroy each other for the entertainment of humans encourages the objectification of anything non-human. Additionally, though some cultures (specifically the US culture) is violent, it is unacceptable to act out on violent impulse (think of the movie fight club). Animal fighting is a way to externalize that impulse for some people.
Another responder compared animal fighting to boxing, and I think it is quite an unfair comparison. Boxers train their bodies to be in optimal condition. There is somewhat of an art behind boxing -- it takes skill and talent. Animals who are bred specifically for fighting do not CHOOSE to fight....

Answer 4

Because they don't have gladiators that fight to the death anymore. That would be illegal. Plus, what the previous respondant said. He's a sociologist, and they understand such awful human behaviors (even though it is horrifying).

Answer 5

It's called 'Blood Lust'...tristan. A deeply rooted need to witness, or get involved in with the act of violence. And the climatic end of course is the death of something or someone! Very primeval instincts are at work here....basically from the original need to hunt for survival I believe...what do you think?

Answer 6

It is exciting to watch and most people gamble by picking one animal over another. WTF do you mean you want a scientific/academic answer? That's like asking why do people like watching football or boxing.