Desenredando el Ambiente: Valores y Afectos Asociados a los Animales en Estudiantes de Psicología de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

The environment has traditionally been considered as a unitary entity without paying attention to the different elements that compose it (soil, water, atmosphere, flora, fauna and the processes that interrelate them). For this reason, the assignment of biocentric or anthropocentric motivations to people has been made in relation to the global environment. This research pays attention to one of the elements of the environment, animals, which has been neglected in environmental concern studies. Biocentric responses were more prevalent in opinions about zoos than in opinions about environmental issues. This positive assessment of animals is qualified when considering the responses on preference, fear and disgust for different animal species: (i) mammals are preferred and arthropods are rejected (comparison between taxonomic groups); and (ii) exotic species absent from Argentina ecosystems are preferred, and common species are rejected. The role that the empathic processes is discussed.