Are cat lovers smarter than dog lovers?

The eternal rivalry between cat and dog owners (Cat People vs Dog People, in English) can be fueled further by a recent study from Carroll University, Wisconsin, which highlights the personality differences between the two. groups.

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

The eternal rivalry between dog and cat owners (Cat People vs Dog People, in English) can be further fueled by a recent study from Carroll University, Wisconsin, which highlights the personality differences between the two groups.

The doctor led him Denise Guastello, associate professor of psychology, who tested 600 college students. He asked them to identify themselves as dog lovers or cat lovers, to describe the most attractive qualities of their favorite pets, and to answer a slew of questions to gauge their personality. What did he discover?

DOG LOVERS - People who claim to be dog lovers tend to be more lively, energetic and expansive. Are also more likely to follow the rules.

LOVERS OF CATS - Those who identify as cat lovers, on the other hand, are more introverted, open-minded and sensitive than dog lovers. Cat lovers are also less conformists and they got it higher scores on intelligence tests.

Do you recognize yourself? Or are they just clichés? Part of the reason for these personality differences may be related to types of environments that cat or dog lovers prefer, Guastello said at the presentation of the findings at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science in San Francisco.

“It makes sense that a person who loves dogs is more lively, because loves to hang around and talk to people when she brings her dog. If, on the other hand, you are more introverted and sensitive, perhaps you prefer to stay at home and read a book, and your cat doesn't need to go out for a walk “, concludes the researcher.

So would cat owners also be smarter than dog owners? The study was actually applied to a rather small sample to assert it with certainty even if as LiveScience points out, most of the conclusions are similar to those of other larger studies such as, for example, the one conducted in 2010, to which 4.500 volunteers participated.

Roberta Ragni

READ also:

Better the Dog or the Cat?