Rehearsal for interpersonal violence (i.e., 'practicing' violence on stray animals or pets before engaging in violent acts against other people).

Self-injury (i.e., using an animal to inflict injuries on the child's own body).

Imitation (i.e., copying a parent's or other adult's abusive 'discipline' of animals).

Post- traumatic play (i.e., reenacting violent episodes with an animal victim).

Better idea, perform the same research on pedophiles or rapists.

Really what is the purpose of this type of research. I would love to beat the fuck of the sick fucks in charge.

Identification with the child's abuser (e.g., a victimized child may try to regain a sense of power by victimizing a more vulnerable animal). Considering I like dogs/animals better then people.

Animal phobias (that cause a preemptive attack on a feared animal).

Attachment to an animal (e.g., the child kills an animal to prevent its torture by another individual).

Forced abuse (i.e., the child is coerced into animal abuse by a more powerful individual).

Sexual gratification (i.e., bestiality).

Mood enhancement (e.g., animal abuse is used to relieve boredom or depression).

Peer pressure (e.g., peers may encourage animal abuse or require it as part of an initiation rite).

'Curiosity or exploration (i.e., the animal is injured or killed in the process of being examined, usually by a young or developmentally delayed child).

While childhood and adolescent motives for animal cruelty has not been well-researched, i nterviews suggest a number of additional developmentally related motivations: A Dog’s Purposelessness: Alleged torture on the set of A Dog’s Purpose is disgusting, but unsurprising Dogs have been bred as a companions, not as tools.

A dogs purpose torture