Presented by Josh Trigg at the Horse SA People.Horses.Culture Conference 2016 http://www.horsesa.asn.au

1. A HORSE JUST
LIKE ME
___________________________________________
Why relationships
with horses
matter in
disasters

2. Joshua Trigg
Appleton Institute of Behavioural Science
CQUniversity, Adelaide
Psychology / with Dr Kirrilly Thompson

3. Animals, Relationships, & Risk
◉ Anthrozoology – interactions / other animals
◉ Personality – who we are / how defined
◉ Risk – what we see / what we do
◉ Identity – How is it relevant to disasters?
An Animal Just Like Me: The Importance of Preserving the Identities of Companion-Animal
Owners in Disaster Contexts – Social & Personality Psychology Compass, 10(1), 26-40.

4. “
What is it we are trying to preserve when we ‘protect
connections’ with horses before, during, and after disasters?

5. “
I call horses ‘divine mirrors’ –
they reflect back the emotions
you put in.
– A. Hamilton

6. Identity
◉ Self-Image – mental model / how you see yourself
◉ Relational – how you interact with / relate to others
◉ Uniqueness – which characteristics stand out

7. Identity & Bonds
Social
How You Feel
Others View
You
Self
How You
View
Yourself
Animal
How You
View Your
Horse
1

8. Identity & Bonds
Social
Preference
for
independent
activities
Self
Strong willed/
independent
person
Animal
Strong willed/
independent
horse
2

9. Identity & Bonds
Social
Preference
for
independent
activities
Self
Strong willed/
independent
person
Animal
Strong willed/
independent
horse
3
Horse-Owner Identity

10. Strongly bonded with horse
Commitment, psychological attachment,
emotional closeness
Influences disaster decisions
Re-entering, staying behind, planning
>28% Identify with animal
Part of self – stylistically, symbolically

11. Self-Extension
Horses as descriptive and symbolic extensions of
owners’ self-image (R. W. Belk)

12. Symbolic – naming/anecdotes
Aesthetic- grooming/equipping
Economic – buying/selling
Physical – gelding/micro-chipping
Behavioural – training/breeding
Control and Identity

13. Losing Part of the Self-Identity
Losing an Animal
◉ Changes overall
sense of self
◉ Lost part of identity
◉ Lose animal physically
◉ Animal present
psychologically (i.e.
memories)
Losing a Limb
◉ Changes to
bodily function
◉ Lost part of body
◉ Lose limb physically
◉ Can still feel present
(i.e. phantom
sensations)

14. Relational Needs
Bonds with animals meet various needs of owners, such
as calming, soothing, acceptance, and cohesion of
self-identity (S-E. Brown)

15. Types of relational needs
Idealising
Complement
each other
Mirroring
Acceptance
Reassurance
Twinship
Mutuality
Oneness
1

16. Roles of relational needs
Idealising
Competency
Self-Efficacy
Mirroring
Managing
distress
Twinship
View of self
View of horse
2

17. Grief – can exceed loss of a person
Anxiety – severe mood disturbances
Stress – severe bodily stress symptoms
PTSD – dissociation and trauma
Family – disrupted family functioning
Loss of a horse

18. Preserving the Horse-Owner Identity
Owners’ welfare/safety
◉ Psychological wellbeing/grief response
◉ Self-esteem/self-efficacy
◉ Meaningful disaster survival planning
Horses’ welfare/safety
◉ Earlier evacuation planning
◉ Greater incorporation in overall planning

19. How to Apply this in Practice
Message: Identity matters to horse and horse owner
welfare in disaster contexts.

20. Potential Applications
Targeted Communication Strategies
◉ For horse and owner disaster preparedness
◉ For resilience and vulnerability awareness
Risk Behaviour Prediction
◉ For risk perception
◉ For risk-taking behaviour
Tool Development  for interested organisations

21. Any questions?
You can find me at
◉ j.trigg@cqu.edu.au
◉ Researchgate.net
Thanks!