Psychologically Incongruent: The Compassionate Abuser

Are you a morning person or a night person? Sweet or salty? Cardio or weights? Cats or dogs? Whether you consider yourself an "animal person" or not, the real story behind former Mets minor leaguer Joseph Petchka's killing of his girlfriend's tabby is that you can't profess to be a compassionate boyfriend (or father) and slaughter domestic animals. The same goes for any animal abuse incident, such as one currently in Bronx courts regarding ringleader Alexander Estephane's dog fighting business. The two characteristics are psychologically incongruous.

Sure, you might be that guy who does not want hair on his couch, so you choose to have a hairless Mr. Bigglesworth or a lone Japanese fighting fish instead -- that's different. Torturing animals is a clear characteristic of a psychopath. And psychopaths, by definition, hurt and take advantage of people as well. Petka was sending an unambiguous message to his girlfriend in killing her cat; he was saying, "You'd better pay attention to me or you will be sorry," or, "I will hurt people around you who take your attention away from me." It's clear in psychological literature on domestic violence how the abuser will hurt pets to instill fear in their designated victim, the pet owner. Sometimes if there are no pets, the children are next -- both veterinarians and pediatricians are trained to look for such incidents and report this type of abuse. Why? Because it hints at a more serious pathology.

In the Bronx case that goes to court next week, Estephane, who used his basement for gambling -- where dog crates, syringes with stimulants, and 9 foot by 9 foot fenced-in pen were found -- raised his right hand in oath and proceeded to mock the jury by saying that he thought his 50 friends were just having a party (without him, no less) and was unaware that there was dog fighting going on directly underneath his living room. The police found wads of cash and 16 dogs. One of the bloodied, mangled dogs later died.

Estephane tried to portray himself as a family man with a wife and daughter. Can you be a good citizen and neighbor, teach compassion to your child and enjoy watching two animals fight to the death? Can you love your girlfriend -- and her idiosyncrasies, friends and family -- but hate her cat, to the point that you strangle it? No. And No.

The Post makes a mockery of the case, just as Estephane mocks the jury's intelligence and court system. Both cases directly or indirectly have repercussions on the safety -- emotional or physical -- of people around the aggressor, whether it is his family or the community. Ask Lisa Altobelli how safe she feels around Petka now; fact is, he did get back at her for sharing the attention that he wanted for himself. Estephanes' neighbors knew of the dogfighting for years, but didn't make complaints to officials for fear of retaliation -- the reason many neighbors never call the police. This alarmingly unsympathetic "Hey, it's just a cat" attitude is same one that is seen in Petka case. It's not just a cat, or just a dog. It's a symptom of something very, very wrong in the aggressor. It's not just about getting another pet, or slapping a ringleader on the wrist. Attitudes like that can get us into deep trouble.

Comments

[patianneb]

In my view, anyone who enjoys (operative word enjoys) watching or inflicting suffering upon the helpless, be it a dog or a child or, for that matter a butterfly, is deeply flawed, and anyone who procures or provides such victims for his/her own enjoyment and/or that of others, is something far worse.
No exceptions.

[fancyfree]

I've always been bothered by the term "just a cat or just a dog." Animals are beings just like us--no matter that the law deems them as property--and have incredibly rich emotional lives, feel pain, and attachment . What is wrong with society that children grow up to believe anything less?

[mamacat]

Dr. Vranich, the instances you have described are terrible. No quibbling, no arguments.

However, you posed the question, "Can you be a good citizen...­..and enjoy watching two animals fight to the death?" I think you meant the question in the limited sense of the cases that you gave as examples. However, in a broader sense, in which it could reasonably be taken, an answer should be qualified.

Would you classify someone who goes trout or salmon fishing as "watching two animals fight to the death?" Only one of the animals is in danger of dying, and yet it could be called a holdover from our hunter-gatherer days.

How about the person who goes bow-hunting for deer? Should that be considered cruel and an indicator of dangerous behavour?

A more extreme example is the sport of bull fighting. Tens of thousands of people every year go to witness this ancient blood sport, in which two animals (human and bull) fight to the death. Should we condemn an entire culture because they still enjoy watching this?

I think the important exception in each of these examples is that the killing is not done to intimidate one's partner, neighbor, or family members. And yet, the way the question was fashioned, I have to wonder what was intended.

[sklinlaw]

I wonder if it'd be the same crime if it were, say, a pot bellied pig? And Petka cooked it. And ate it. Just a thought. On another note, I have a fantastic pink nosed pit that I rescued from the pound - and it's soooo awful to think they'd kill him upon entering the pound - just because humans are using a certain breed for their own sick form of entertainment. My pit is the sweetest, most gentle lovely lap dog - and if he were abused and poked to attack other dogs, it ought to be the humans involved, and not be put to sleep for their actions. Just my 2 cents' worth...

[Jonahson]

It is like the SPCA showing compassion to animals by putting them to sleep when the kennel gets overcrowded or putting them to sleep when they look sickly or when no one adopts them after sometime. Compassion from our point of view that is! Selective compassion is plain selfishness.

[yogaivy]

Ugh, God, this is awful. And I know it's true that incidents like this happen far more frequently than we even know because as you pointed out -- people are afraid to report it OR they think, it's just an animal, no big deal. Crazy. I just don't understand the mentality of not knowing or caring that animals suffer like we do.

[anon004]

Aren't there studies that show a common characteristic among serial killers is that they abused and/or killed animals when they were children?

[DeannaDurbin]

Yes, there are studies as well as many articles written on the link between animal abuse in children and violence in adulthood. Authors Randall Lockwood, Ph.D., Frank R. Ascione and several others are well known in the field. Also, the book published in 1995, Mindhunter, Inside the FBI Elite Serial Crime Unit, by John E. Douglas, points out several times the same connection. Cruelty to animals is included as one of three elements called the "homicidal triad" by the FBI. The homicidal triad is defined as: fire-starting, bed-wetting and animal cruelty.

One writer, Dr. Suzanne Conboy-Hill sums up the connection in one sentence. "People who have notoriously tortured and killed others frequently have a history of torturing and killing animals in early childhood, often for pleasure." Reference: Animal Abuse and Interpersonal Violence. 2002

[gopackers]

What I'd like to know is -- why is it so often the athletes? Think Barren Vick -- not sure if there are others, but seems like there are. What is the connection between the psychology of an athlete and the psychology of a killer? That's a study I'd like to read.

[riotforchange]

Yeah, but do certain sports attract a certain personality type? Like does baseball attract psychos? And why? And if you've ever been to a football game . . .

[Nommo]

So why do you go?

[littlejohn1]

I don't think there's any connection. I think these guys are just famous and that's why we hear about it. In my old neighborhood, dog fighting was a huge issue, to the point that our local shelter was legally mandated to kill any rotweilers, chows, or pits that walked through the doors. They weren't even allowed to be adopted. I hope someone is launching a huge campaign against dogfighting in general. It really is becoming a major problem.

[dragkingmax]

What I want to know is: did Petka's girlfriend stay with him after he killed her cat???

[sterlingcheese]

Yeah, this is insane. I mean, I know a few people who just don't care for animals, they find them annoying or whatnot, but maliciously killing an animal is just on a completely different level. That definitely speaks to serious psychosis, as you pointed out.

[CircleofHealth]

I agree that not liking them is not the same as harming them, but Dr. Vranich, I wonder for couples, how seriously one should take incompatible feelings about animals?

My sister who has a beloved cat is planning to start a family with a man who has concerns about infection and focuses on this cat. He has stated that when they move in together, he wants the cat confined to a different part of the house so that he doesn't have to come in contact with it. The cat btw is a healthy well-groomed animal. My question is: if he feels this way about the cat, who has been the object of my sister's maternal feelings for many years, is he likely to have quirky attitudes towards their children?

[rachelchanteuse]

Yeah, I really loved how that guy was being portrayed as this "family man" a stand-up guy, right? Well, you can't be a stand-up guy if you torture animals like that. Completely incongruent. There is something wrong with anyone who can torture animals, for whatever reason, and to think that kind of behavior won't carry into other parts of these guys' lives is just ignorant.

[writeforlife]

Yes, absolutely. Animal abuse is definitely the hallmark trait of a psychopath. Anything you read about the childhood of serial killers will tell you that. They start practicing on animals, and then move on to larger life forms. That's why I think (well, among other reasons) that our judicial system does NOT pay enough attention to crimes against animals. Even if you don't view animals as sentient beings deserving of a happy, healthy life, you can at least agree that someone who could kill a helpless animal with his bare hands could just as easily do that to a human being in a heartbeat.

[hopeless277]

What kind of person tortures a 16 year old boy for 6 years in an offshore detention center? Oh, right, the Republican kind.