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Attitudes to Animal Dilemmas: An Exploratory Comparison Between Mexican and English Children

Year 2015, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 0 - , 14.09.2015
https://doi.org/10.18497/iejee-green.64245

Abstract

Abstract

This research explores some of the factors that influence the relations about empathy and /or rejection that children establish towards some animal species. The role that school has within the social context in these dynamics was considered. Attitudes of young children (aged 7 to 9) from Mexico and England towards specific animal species, examining attitudinal differences not only between cultures, and educational systems, but between species have been compared. Ecological dilemmas involving animals are used as a method to analyse children’s constructions of the environment in the field of moral development and conservation. Children expressed more negative attitudes towards spiders and snakes, than towards monkeys and birds. Although these attitudes in themselves are not surprising, the material in this study provides new information on how young children construct their moral ideas on conservation matters through the used of ecological dilemmas. Children’s reactions vary according to culture, experience, affiliation for a particular animal and school ethos.

Key words:   Attitudes, biophilia, children, animals, ecological dilemmas

References

  • Adams, C. E., Newgard, L., & Thomas J.K. (1986). How high school and college students feel about wildlife.American Biology Teacher. 48, 263-267.
  • Barraza, L. (1999). Children’s Drawings about the Environment.Environmental Education Research. 5 (2), 55-66.
  • Barraza, L. (2001). Perceptions of social and environmental problems by English and Mexican children.Canadian Journal of Environmental Education. 6, 138-152.
  • Barraza, L. (2001). Environmental values start at home: Parents and their role in the development of values.Journal of Environmental Education and Information.20, 239- 256.
  • Barraza, L. and Walford R.A. (2002). Environmental education: A comparison between English and Mexican school children.Environmental Education Research.8 (2), 171-186.
  • Barraza, L. 2002. Los animales y su atractivo para los niños.Especies.11(5), 25-27.
  • Barraza, L., A.M. Duque-Aristizábal & G. Rebolledo. 2003. Environmental Education: from policy to practice.Environmental Education Research.9 (3), 347-357.
  • Barraza, L. and Cuarón A.D. 2004. How values in education affect children's environmental knowledge.Journal of Biological Education. 39(1), 18-23.
  • Barraza, L. 1996.Environmental knowledge and attitudes of English and Mexican school children.Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Cambridge, Faculty of Education. Cambridge, U.K
  • Brewer, C. 2002. Conservation education partnerships in schoolyard laboratories: A call back to action.Conservation Biology. 3, 577-579.
  • Buergenthal, T. and Torney, J.V. (1976).International Human Rights and International Education.Paris, France: U.S. National Commission for UNESCO.
  • Caduto, M.J. (1985).A guide on environmental values education. Paris, France: UNESCO.
  • Caride, J.A. (2005). In the name of Environmental Education: words and things in the complex territory of education- environment-development relations.Policy Futures in Education. 3(3), 260-270.
  • Caro, T.M., Pelkey, N., & Grigione, M. (1994). Effects of conservation biology education o attitudes toward nature.Conservation Biology.8, 846-852.
  • Crawley, M.J. (1993).GLIM for Ecologists. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Blackwell Scientific Publications.
  • Cuarón, A. D. (1991).Conservación de los primates y sus hábitats en el sur de México.MSc. Thesis. Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica.
  • Cuarón, A.D. (1997).Land-cover changes and mammal conservation in Mesoamerica. PhD. Dissertation, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
  • Egan, K. (1991).Primary understanding education in early childhood. London: Routledge.
  • Flores-Villela, O. (1993a). Herpetofauna of Mexico: Distribution and endemism. In T.P. Ramamoorthy, R. Bye, A. Lot, and J. Fa (Ed).Biological Diversity of Mexico: Origins and distribution. (pp. 253-280). New York, U.S.A: Oxford University Press.
  • Flores-Villela, O. (1993b). Herpetofauna mexicana. Special Publication of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.17, 1-73.
  • Gray, G.G., Larson, J.S. & Braunhardt D.A.(1979). Urban conservation leadership and the wildlife resource.Urban Ecology.4, 1-9.
  • Gray, P. (1991).Psychology.New York: Worth Publishers.
  • Hardy, T.N. (1988). Entomophobia: The case for Miss Muffet.American Entomological Society. 34, 64-69.
  • Jacobson, S. K., and. Marynowski S. B. (1997). Public attitudes and knowledge about ecosystem management on Department of Defense land in Florida.Conservation Biology.11, 770-781.
  • Kellert, S. R. (1979).Public attitudes toward critical wildlife and natural habitat issues. Washington, D.C: U.S. Government Printing Office and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • Kellert, S. R. (1980). Contemporary values of wildlife in American Society. In W. W. Shaw and I. Zube (Ed.).Wildlife Values Report. (pp. 31-60). Ft. Collins Colorado,USA: U.S. Forest Service.
  • Kellert, S. R. (1983). Assessing wildlife and environmental values in cost-benefit analysis. Environmental Management.18, 355-363.
  • Kellert, S .R.(1991). Japanese perceptions of wildlife.Conservation Biology.5, 297-308.
  • Kellert, S .R. (1993). Values and perceptions of invertebrates.Conservation Biology.7, 845- 855.
  • Kellert, S. R. (1993). The Biological basis for human values of Nature. In R. Kellert and E.O. Wilson. (Ed.)The biophilia Hypothesis. ( pp. 42-69). Washington, D.C: Island Press.
  • Kellert, S. R. and Clark, T. (1991). The theory and application of a wildlife policy framework. In W.R. Mangun and S .S. Nagel. (Ed.).Public policy and wildlife conservation. (pp. 5-24). New York, USA: Greenwood.
  • Kohlberg, L. (1984).The psychology of moral development. Essays on moral development. San Francisco, USA: Harper & Row Publishers.
  • Laucks, C.E. (1981).The meaning of children. Colorado,USA: Westview Press.
  • Lockwood, J.A. (1987). The moral standing of insects and the ethics of extinction.Entomology. 70, 70-89.
  • Loughland, T.,Reid, A. & Pectocz, P.(2002). Young people’s conceptions of environment: A phemonenographic analysis.Environmental Education Research.2, 187-197.
  • McNeely, J.A., Miller, K.R.,. Reid, W.V., Mittermeier, R. A. &. Werner, T. B. (1990).Conserving the world's biological diversity, Gland, IUCN; Washington, USA: WRI, CI, WWF-US, and the World Bank.
  • More, T. A. (1979). Wildlife preferences and children's books.Wildlife Society Bulletin.7, 274- 278.
  • Morris, D. (1960). An analysis of animal popularity.International Zoo Yearbook2, 61-67.
  • Musser, L.M. and Malkus, A.J. (1994). The children's attitudes towards the environment scale. Environmental Education.25, 22-26.
  • Nabhan, G. P. and Antoine, St.S. (1993). The loss of floral and faunal story: The extinction of experience. In S. R. Kellert and O.E. Wilson. (Ed.).The biophilia hypothesis. (pp.229- 250). Washington, D. C.,USA: Island Press.
  • Oppenheim, A.N. (1992).Questionnaire design, interviewing and attitude measurement. London, U.K: Pinter publishers Ltd.
  • Piaget, J. (1969).The child's conception of the world.London,U.K: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.Ltd.
  • Posch, P. (1993). Research issues in environmental education.Studies in Science Education. 21, 21-48.
  • Ramamoorthy, T.P., Bye, R.,Lot, A. & Fa, J.E. (1993).Biological diversity of Mexico: Origins and distribution. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
  • Rapoport, A.(1978).The environment as an enculturating system: Priorities for environmental research design. Washington. D.C, USA: Weidmann, S. and Anderson, J.A. EDRA.
  • Reading, R. P., and Kellert, S. (1993). Attitudes toward a proposed reintroduction of black footed ferrets(Mustela nigripes). Conservation Biology,7, 569-580.
  • Royal Statistical Society. (1985).GLIM statistical package. U.K.Version 3.77, Royal Statistical Society.
  • Steel, B. S. (1996). Thinking globally and acting locally?: Environmental attitudes, behavior and activism.Journal of Environmental Management,47, 27-36.
  • Sterling, S. 2001.Sustainable Education: Re-visioning learning and change. Devon, U.K: Green Books Ltd.
  • Titman, W. (1994).Special places special people. London, U.K: WWF-Learning through Landscapes.
  • Ulrich, R. S. (1993). Biophilia, biophobia, and natural landscapes. In S.R. Kellert and E.O. Wilson. (Ed.).The biophilia Hypothesis.(pp.73-137). Washington, D. C.: Island Press.
  • Uzzell, D. (1994).Children as catalysts of environmental change. European Commission. Science Research and Development Report. Guilford, Surrey, U.K: University of Surrey.
  • Van Arcken, M, M. (1993). Environmental education, children and animals.Anthrozoos,3, 14-19.
  • Vygotzky, L. (1978).Mind in society. Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A: Harvard University Press.
  • Wilson, E.O. (1984).
  • Biophilia: The human bond with other species. Cambridge,
  • Massachussets: Harvard University Press.
  • Wilson, E.O. (1993). Biophilia and the conservation ethic. In S. R. Kellert and E.O. Wilson. (Ed.).The biophilia hypothesis. (pp. 31-41). Washington, D. C: Island Press.
Year 2015, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 0 - , 14.09.2015
https://doi.org/10.18497/iejee-green.64245

Abstract

References

  • Adams, C. E., Newgard, L., & Thomas J.K. (1986). How high school and college students feel about wildlife.American Biology Teacher. 48, 263-267.
  • Barraza, L. (1999). Children’s Drawings about the Environment.Environmental Education Research. 5 (2), 55-66.
  • Barraza, L. (2001). Perceptions of social and environmental problems by English and Mexican children.Canadian Journal of Environmental Education. 6, 138-152.
  • Barraza, L. (2001). Environmental values start at home: Parents and their role in the development of values.Journal of Environmental Education and Information.20, 239- 256.
  • Barraza, L. and Walford R.A. (2002). Environmental education: A comparison between English and Mexican school children.Environmental Education Research.8 (2), 171-186.
  • Barraza, L. 2002. Los animales y su atractivo para los niños.Especies.11(5), 25-27.
  • Barraza, L., A.M. Duque-Aristizábal & G. Rebolledo. 2003. Environmental Education: from policy to practice.Environmental Education Research.9 (3), 347-357.
  • Barraza, L. and Cuarón A.D. 2004. How values in education affect children's environmental knowledge.Journal of Biological Education. 39(1), 18-23.
  • Barraza, L. 1996.Environmental knowledge and attitudes of English and Mexican school children.Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Cambridge, Faculty of Education. Cambridge, U.K
  • Brewer, C. 2002. Conservation education partnerships in schoolyard laboratories: A call back to action.Conservation Biology. 3, 577-579.
  • Buergenthal, T. and Torney, J.V. (1976).International Human Rights and International Education.Paris, France: U.S. National Commission for UNESCO.
  • Caduto, M.J. (1985).A guide on environmental values education. Paris, France: UNESCO.
  • Caride, J.A. (2005). In the name of Environmental Education: words and things in the complex territory of education- environment-development relations.Policy Futures in Education. 3(3), 260-270.
  • Caro, T.M., Pelkey, N., & Grigione, M. (1994). Effects of conservation biology education o attitudes toward nature.Conservation Biology.8, 846-852.
  • Crawley, M.J. (1993).GLIM for Ecologists. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Blackwell Scientific Publications.
  • Cuarón, A. D. (1991).Conservación de los primates y sus hábitats en el sur de México.MSc. Thesis. Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica.
  • Cuarón, A.D. (1997).Land-cover changes and mammal conservation in Mesoamerica. PhD. Dissertation, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
  • Egan, K. (1991).Primary understanding education in early childhood. London: Routledge.
  • Flores-Villela, O. (1993a). Herpetofauna of Mexico: Distribution and endemism. In T.P. Ramamoorthy, R. Bye, A. Lot, and J. Fa (Ed).Biological Diversity of Mexico: Origins and distribution. (pp. 253-280). New York, U.S.A: Oxford University Press.
  • Flores-Villela, O. (1993b). Herpetofauna mexicana. Special Publication of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.17, 1-73.
  • Gray, G.G., Larson, J.S. & Braunhardt D.A.(1979). Urban conservation leadership and the wildlife resource.Urban Ecology.4, 1-9.
  • Gray, P. (1991).Psychology.New York: Worth Publishers.
  • Hardy, T.N. (1988). Entomophobia: The case for Miss Muffet.American Entomological Society. 34, 64-69.
  • Jacobson, S. K., and. Marynowski S. B. (1997). Public attitudes and knowledge about ecosystem management on Department of Defense land in Florida.Conservation Biology.11, 770-781.
  • Kellert, S. R. (1979).Public attitudes toward critical wildlife and natural habitat issues. Washington, D.C: U.S. Government Printing Office and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • Kellert, S. R. (1980). Contemporary values of wildlife in American Society. In W. W. Shaw and I. Zube (Ed.).Wildlife Values Report. (pp. 31-60). Ft. Collins Colorado,USA: U.S. Forest Service.
  • Kellert, S. R. (1983). Assessing wildlife and environmental values in cost-benefit analysis. Environmental Management.18, 355-363.
  • Kellert, S .R.(1991). Japanese perceptions of wildlife.Conservation Biology.5, 297-308.
  • Kellert, S .R. (1993). Values and perceptions of invertebrates.Conservation Biology.7, 845- 855.
  • Kellert, S. R. (1993). The Biological basis for human values of Nature. In R. Kellert and E.O. Wilson. (Ed.)The biophilia Hypothesis. ( pp. 42-69). Washington, D.C: Island Press.
  • Kellert, S. R. and Clark, T. (1991). The theory and application of a wildlife policy framework. In W.R. Mangun and S .S. Nagel. (Ed.).Public policy and wildlife conservation. (pp. 5-24). New York, USA: Greenwood.
  • Kohlberg, L. (1984).The psychology of moral development. Essays on moral development. San Francisco, USA: Harper & Row Publishers.
  • Laucks, C.E. (1981).The meaning of children. Colorado,USA: Westview Press.
  • Lockwood, J.A. (1987). The moral standing of insects and the ethics of extinction.Entomology. 70, 70-89.
  • Loughland, T.,Reid, A. & Pectocz, P.(2002). Young people’s conceptions of environment: A phemonenographic analysis.Environmental Education Research.2, 187-197.
  • McNeely, J.A., Miller, K.R.,. Reid, W.V., Mittermeier, R. A. &. Werner, T. B. (1990).Conserving the world's biological diversity, Gland, IUCN; Washington, USA: WRI, CI, WWF-US, and the World Bank.
  • More, T. A. (1979). Wildlife preferences and children's books.Wildlife Society Bulletin.7, 274- 278.
  • Morris, D. (1960). An analysis of animal popularity.International Zoo Yearbook2, 61-67.
  • Musser, L.M. and Malkus, A.J. (1994). The children's attitudes towards the environment scale. Environmental Education.25, 22-26.
  • Nabhan, G. P. and Antoine, St.S. (1993). The loss of floral and faunal story: The extinction of experience. In S. R. Kellert and O.E. Wilson. (Ed.).The biophilia hypothesis. (pp.229- 250). Washington, D. C.,USA: Island Press.
  • Oppenheim, A.N. (1992).Questionnaire design, interviewing and attitude measurement. London, U.K: Pinter publishers Ltd.
  • Piaget, J. (1969).The child's conception of the world.London,U.K: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.Ltd.
  • Posch, P. (1993). Research issues in environmental education.Studies in Science Education. 21, 21-48.
  • Ramamoorthy, T.P., Bye, R.,Lot, A. & Fa, J.E. (1993).Biological diversity of Mexico: Origins and distribution. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
  • Rapoport, A.(1978).The environment as an enculturating system: Priorities for environmental research design. Washington. D.C, USA: Weidmann, S. and Anderson, J.A. EDRA.
  • Reading, R. P., and Kellert, S. (1993). Attitudes toward a proposed reintroduction of black footed ferrets(Mustela nigripes). Conservation Biology,7, 569-580.
  • Royal Statistical Society. (1985).GLIM statistical package. U.K.Version 3.77, Royal Statistical Society.
  • Steel, B. S. (1996). Thinking globally and acting locally?: Environmental attitudes, behavior and activism.Journal of Environmental Management,47, 27-36.
  • Sterling, S. 2001.Sustainable Education: Re-visioning learning and change. Devon, U.K: Green Books Ltd.
  • Titman, W. (1994).Special places special people. London, U.K: WWF-Learning through Landscapes.
  • Ulrich, R. S. (1993). Biophilia, biophobia, and natural landscapes. In S.R. Kellert and E.O. Wilson. (Ed.).The biophilia Hypothesis.(pp.73-137). Washington, D. C.: Island Press.
  • Uzzell, D. (1994).Children as catalysts of environmental change. European Commission. Science Research and Development Report. Guilford, Surrey, U.K: University of Surrey.
  • Van Arcken, M, M. (1993). Environmental education, children and animals.Anthrozoos,3, 14-19.
  • Vygotzky, L. (1978).Mind in society. Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A: Harvard University Press.
  • Wilson, E.O. (1984).
  • Biophilia: The human bond with other species. Cambridge,
  • Massachussets: Harvard University Press.
  • Wilson, E.O. (1993). Biophilia and the conservation ethic. In S. R. Kellert and E.O. Wilson. (Ed.).The biophilia hypothesis. (pp. 31-41). Washington, D. C: Island Press.
There are 58 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Research Papers
Authors

Laura Barraza

Publication Date September 14, 2015
Published in Issue Year 2015 Volume: 5 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Barraza, L. (2015). Attitudes to Animal Dilemmas: An Exploratory Comparison Between Mexican and English Children. International Electronic Journal of Environmental Education, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.18497/iejee-green.64245
AMA Barraza L. Attitudes to Animal Dilemmas: An Exploratory Comparison Between Mexican and English Children. IEJEE-Green. November 2015;5(2). doi:10.18497/iejee-green.64245
Chicago Barraza, Laura. “Attitudes to Animal Dilemmas: An Exploratory Comparison Between Mexican and English Children”. International Electronic Journal of Environmental Education 5, no. 2 (November 2015). https://doi.org/10.18497/iejee-green.64245.
EndNote Barraza L (November 1, 2015) Attitudes to Animal Dilemmas: An Exploratory Comparison Between Mexican and English Children. International Electronic Journal of Environmental Education 5 2
IEEE L. Barraza, “Attitudes to Animal Dilemmas: An Exploratory Comparison Between Mexican and English Children”, IEJEE-Green, vol. 5, no. 2, 2015, doi: 10.18497/iejee-green.64245.
ISNAD Barraza, Laura. “Attitudes to Animal Dilemmas: An Exploratory Comparison Between Mexican and English Children”. International Electronic Journal of Environmental Education 5/2 (November 2015). https://doi.org/10.18497/iejee-green.64245.
JAMA Barraza L. Attitudes to Animal Dilemmas: An Exploratory Comparison Between Mexican and English Children. IEJEE-Green. 2015;5. doi:10.18497/iejee-green.64245.
MLA Barraza, Laura. “Attitudes to Animal Dilemmas: An Exploratory Comparison Between Mexican and English Children”. International Electronic Journal of Environmental Education, vol. 5, no. 2, 2015, doi:10.18497/iejee-green.64245.
Vancouver Barraza L. Attitudes to Animal Dilemmas: An Exploratory Comparison Between Mexican and English Children. IEJEE-Green. 2015;5(2).