Why Do We Treat Pets as Family? Scientists Reveal the Psychology Behind Human-Pet Relationships

Kittens are your daughters, desktop pictures are beloved dogs. Many people treat pets as family, and this isn't wishful thinking—psychological research finds pets may truly integrate into owners' "self" and even change how their brains operate.

Today, starting from psychological research, we'll reveal the deep psychological mechanisms of human-pet relationships and see how furry children "occupy" our memories and emotions.

What Is the "Pet Self"?

The "pet self" is a psychological concept referring to pet owners gradually incorporating pets into self-awareness through long-term intimate interaction.

**Simply put**: Pets are no longer just "external objects" but, like family, become important elements defining "who I am" for owners.

Scientific Discovery: How Pets Integrate into Our Psychological World

1. Psychological Circle Test: 55% of Pet Owners Treat Pets as Family

Research team surveyed 332 pet owners and non-owners, finding: - **Pet owners**: 55% drew pets within psychological circles representing "self" - **Non-owners**: Only 33% did this

**Conclusion**: Pet owners perceive significantly higher overlap between pets and self than non-owners.

2. Memory Experiment: Pet Information Remembered Like Family

Researchers had pet owners and non-owners perform adjective memory tasks, finding: - **Pet owners**: Memory for pet-related words (like "loyal," "playful") comparable to words describing self or mother - **Non-owners**: Only excelled with self and mother references

**Significance**: Pets have been incorporated into owners' "relational self," triggering automatic memory processing similar to family.

3. EEG Experiment: Pets' Special Status in the Brain

Monitoring 29 pet owners' brain activity with EEG technology found: - Brain activity when thinking about pet traits similar to thinking about mother information - But weaker than processing self-information intensity

**Metaphor**: Pet owners' self-structure resembles "concentric circles"—innermost core is self, outward are mother, pet, outermost are general others.

Why Can Pets Become Part of Our Psychological World?

Self-Expansion Theory

Humans naturally desire expanding self-boundaries through relationships. Pets' companionship and emotional support gradually give them "family-like" attributes.

Psychological Kinship Theory

Human kinship definitions aren't based on blood but emotional bonds. Pets living with people daily satisfy attachment needs.

**Interesting finding**: Interacting with dogs promotes oxytocin secretion—this bond is so profound that when pets die, owners may experience trauma reactions similar to bereavement.

Brain Benefits of Pet Ownership

Delaying Cognitive Decline

Since pet reference effects require continuous attention and memory resources, long-term pet ownership may help delay brain cognitive decline.

**Research shows**: People owning pets over 5 years score higher on short-term memory tests, with brain age averaging 15 years younger than actual age.

Pet Self Formation Process

Pet-human psychological integration is a dynamic process:

Initial Stage

May stem from desire to alleviate loneliness

Development Process

Through daily interaction, pets gradually transition from "it" to "us"

Mature Manifestations

- **Language patterns**: Using "we" rather than "me and dog" to describe interactions - **Moral decisions**: Willingness to save pets in danger approaches saving family members - **Emotional responses**: Pet death triggers trauma reactions similar to bereavement

Psychology Tips

1. Give Pets Names

Research finds treating pets as "family members" strengthens psychological bonds. Try using human relationship terms for pets, like "little brother" or "little sister" instead of "it."

2. Take More Photos Together

Self-reference effects suggest shared experiences with pets are more easily remembered. Regularly recording interaction moments can quickly evoke positive emotions during stress.

3. Talk to Pets When Sad

Although pets can't verbally respond, talking to them triggers "social support feelings," reducing stress hormone levels.

4. Handle Pet Death Carefully

If pets die, allow yourself to grieve. Research shows denying pain may worsen psychological trauma.

Summary

The "pet self" is a psychological product of human-animal relationship evolution. It proves love's power can transcend species boundaries, allowing another life to truly enter humanity's soul territory.

Hope these discoveries help you better understand the special relationship with pets!