Moral Disengagement From Animal Harms Among Incarcerated Men, and Change Through Human–Animal Relationships in a Prison-Dog Program

Abstract

When a human being’s action conflicts with their morals, moral disengagement is one strategy that allows the deactivation of self-sanctions while avoiding the emotional distress, like guilt or shame, that could result. Yet moral disengagement must be maintained to be effective, leaving space for ways that it may be shifted and changed. Empathy, or the ability to empathize with the victim, is one quality that can inhibit moral disengagement. The purpose of this study was to explore experiences of moral disengagement from animal harms among incarcerated men and how their relationships with dogs in a prison-dog program facilitated empathy and other emotional characteristics known to inversely impact moral disengagement. Derived from qualitative focus groups with 28 men in a prison-dog program, the paper traces early lives and the start of moral disengagement strategies for the participants, the ways they morally grappled with animal harms in their adult lives, and the ways human–dog bonds helped open up space for change related to emotional and caring qualities. Ultimately, these characteristics moved many participants into a more empathetic position, and in doing so, caused shifts in ways of thinking about the wellbeing of some others, particularly animals, with positive implications for their future human and animal relationships.