Heavy exposure to dissection can harden attitudes toward animal suffering and foster disrespect for animal life. The killing of millions of animals each year for education fosters the impression that animal life is cheap. In times when we are struggling to reduce violence in our society, the practice of harming and killing sentient creatures to conduct an "educational exercise" is an anachronism.

- Barbara Orlans, Professor of Anatomy and Physiology,
Georgetown University, Washington, DC

The fact that dissection can and does turn off some talented youngsters from a career in the biological sciences is indisputable.

- F. Barbara Orlans, Ph.D., Physiologist

Biological science curricula in which dissection of animals is required selects and has selected a population of students which regard animals as disposable tools. This is probably why many biologists, biology educators, and health care professionals do not even think of considering using methods of teaching and research in which animals are not harmed.

- Gloria J. Binkowski, V.M.D.

The Link Between Human Violence and Animal Cruelty

Criminology studies show a link between animal cruelty and violence to humans. It is not uncommon that a murderer or spouse/child abuser has had a past that included deliberate harm or torture to animals. When you think about it, this makes sense because compassion is a quality that transcends species. So what does this have to do with animal dissection? Does dissection encourage violent behavior? Does it make the student less caring and sensitive to suffering?

Research indicates that the more frequently people are exposed to a certain situation, the more comfortable they become with it. Therefore, students who may be uncomfortable with the first dissection exercise are likely to become increasingly more comfortable with the procedure with repeated exposure.

This desensitization to violence in animals and how it may translate into desensitization to violence in people is increasingly gaining the attention of psychologist and sociologists. Dissection is a form of violence against animals. The fact that this "violence" is perpetrated on an animal's dead body makes it no less "violent" in nature. And certainly "violence" was involved in killing the animal for dissection. In our school systems today, violence has become an urgent problem.

Values and compassion should be part of science education. Many science teachers have already recognized this connection and have moved away from using animal dissection as a teaching tool. These teachers choose to encourage respect for all life.

Today, alternatives to dissection such as models and computer programs are sophisticated and effective teaching tools. They are more cost-effective than repeatedly purchasing animal specimens, and studies show they are as effective, or more so, in teaching biology.

Additional Resources:

Arluke, A. and Lockwood, R. (Eds.). Society and Animals, Special Theme Issue: Animal Cruelty, Volume 5, Number 3, 1997, Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, P.O. Box 1297, Washington Grove, MD 20880-1297.

Ascione, F. and Arkow, P. (Eds.). 1999. Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Animal Abuse: Linking the Circles of Compassion for Prevention and Intervention, Purdue University Press, West Lafayette, IN.

Duel, D. 2000. Violence Prevention and Intervention: A Directory of Animal-Related Programs, The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20037.

Frasch, P., Otto, S., Olsen, K., and Ernest, P. "State Animal Anti-Cruelty Statutes: An Overview," Animal Law, Volume 5, 1999, pp. 69-80.

Kellert & Felthous, Childhood Cruelty toward Animals among Criminals and Non-Criminals, 38 Hum. Rel., 1985, pp. 1113-29.

Lacroix, C. "Another Weapon for Combating Family Violence: Prevention of Animal Abuse," Animal Law, Volume 4, 1998, pp. 1-31.

Lockwood, R. and Ascione, F. (Eds.). 1998. Cruelty to Animals and Interpersonal Violence: Readings in Research and Application, Purdue University Press, West Lafayette, IN.