How you relate to animals

The root of your relationship with the animal world — affection, wonder, study, use or distance. Most of us blend several; pick the one that runs deepest.

Stephen Kellert's typology of basic attitudes toward animals, developed from large-scale US national surveys in the late 1970s (Kellert, 1980) and later reworked into nine 'values of nature' in The Value of Life (1996). The research found people hold a blend of these attitudes, usually with one or two dominant; this is a self-description of your strongest, not a test. (Kellert's attitudes toward animals (1980))

Groups

• The naturalist — Happiest in direct contact with wildlife and wild places — out watching, walking and exploring.
• The ecologist — Drawn to the living system — species, habitats and how everything connects.
• The scientist — Fascinated by how animals work — bodies, senses and behaviour.
• The admirer — Moved by animals' beauty — their form and grace, in life, art and story.
• The companion — Deep affection for individual animals, above all pets — they're family.
• The advocate — How animals are treated matters most — firmly against cruelty and exploitation.
• The pragmatist — Animals matter for what they provide — food, wool, work and livelihood.
• The handler — The satisfaction of skilled mastery with animals — training, riding, herding, working trials.
• Happier at a distance — Wary of animals or simply not drawn to them — life feels simpler with some space between you.

Related topics

• Animal you feel a kinship with
• Plants & gardening
• Wildlife you're most drawn to
• Animals in your life
• Wildlife you dream of seeing

All topics on ArtaQuest