Personality Characteristics of Dog-Lovers and Cat-Lovers: Multiplicity of Personality and Similarity to Personality of Pet

Abstract

This study explored the personality characteristics of dog-lovers and cat-lovers. Participants completed the Big Five Inventory to measure personality of public self, private self, typical dogs, and typical cats, and were asked to indicate their attitudes toward dogs and cats. Results showed that those who preferred cats had more similar personalities to cats than those who did not. In addition, those who had the tendency to keep a dog had less personality differences between public and private self than those who did not, and those who had the tendency to keep a cat had more personality differences between public and private self than those who did not. These findings were discussed in terms of strategies for coping with the expectations of other people.