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Keywords

Animal Hoarding, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Object Hoarding

Abstract

This paper reviews the characteristic features, origin, and treatment of animal hoarding. It evaluates the similarities and differences of hoarding disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, showing that it seems to be more closely related to object hoarding. This disorder often originates with a traumatic life event, which triggers a psychological vulnerability to compulsively collect animals. In some cases, the hoarder was neglected by parental figures at a young age, so he or she developed relationships with animals to cope. Other theories for the origin include addiction models, delusional disorders, and dementia models. Several theories are reviewed to explain the characteristic lack of insight in animal hoarding, including viewing the animals as self-objects, extensions of themselves, or dissociation. This paper also reviews ineffective methods of dealing with animal hoarders and the lack of treatment for animal hoarding, as well as implications and recommended solutions.

Description

The Annual Mary Lou Fulton Mentored Research Conference showcases some of the best student research from the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences. The mentored learning program encourages undergraduate students to participate in hands-on and practical research under the direction of a faculty member. Students create these posters as an aide in presenting the results of their research to the public, faculty, and their peers.

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

2017-05-02

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Psychology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Junior

Course

Psychology 307

Literature Review of Animal Hoarding

Included in

Psychology Commons

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