Hal Herzog

Professor Emeritus Western Carolina University

  • Cullowhee NC

Hal Herzog has been investigating the complex psychology of our interactions with other species for more than two decades.

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Western Carolina University

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Biography

Hal Herzog has been investigating the complex psychology of our interactions with other species for more than two decades. He is particularly interested in how people negotiate real-world ethical dilemmas, and he has studied animal activists, cockfighters, animal researchers, and circus animal trainers. An award-winning teacher and researcher, he has written more than 100 articles and book chapters. His research has been published in journals such as Science, The American Psychologist, The Journal of the Royal Society, The American Scholar, New Scientist, Anthrozoös, BioScience, The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and Animal Behavior. His work has been covered by Newsweek, Slate, Salon, National Public Radio, Scientific American, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune and many other newspapers. In 2013, he was given the Distinguished Scholar Award by the International Society for Anthrozoology.

Hal Herzog is Professor of Psychology at Western Carolina University and lives in the Smoky Mountains with his wife Mary Jean and their cat Tilly.

Industry Expertise

Writing and Editing
Education/Learning

Areas of Expertise

Animal Ethics
Animal Welfare
Human Sexuality
Biological Psychology
Animal Sciences

Accomplishments

Distinguished Scholar Award

2013

International Society for Anthrozoology

Languages

  • English

Media Appearances

5 reasons why moving to a pet-friendly estate is good for you and your family

IOL  online

2022-10-06

According to a CNN article, Western Carolina University professor and psychologist Harold Herzog has long examined the bond between humans and animals. His findings demonstrate that having pets generally helps reduce stress levels, with pets offering crucial emotional support during extremely stressful situations.

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Pets we call our 'fur babies' offer us more than just companionship

CBC  online

2022-09-05

Hal Herzog, professor emeritus from Western Carolina University, said research indicates animals can trigger our brains and release chemicals in the same way that babies do. "We tend to like animals that look cute, and cute often is defined as having features of human infants — you know, large eyes and chubby faces and things like that," said Herzog, who studies the psychological, cultural and biological aspects of our relationships with pets.

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Has the U.S. already reached Peak Dog?

Animals 24-7  online

2022-08-29

Western Carolina University anthrozoologist Hal Herzog, without ever mentioning Peak Dog, on September 30, 2020 made a strong case that it is coming soon.

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Event Appearances

Dr. Hal Herzog - on our relationship with animals

Free lecture  UWindsor Toldo (Anthony P.) Health Education and Learning Centre

2017-10-25

Articles

Peticide: An Analysis of Online News Media Articles of Human Suicide Involving Pet Animals

Anthrozoös

2022

While pets may be protective for some people at risk of suicide, they may also become a risk factor or even become co-victims when humans end their own lives. It is important to protect against simplistic approaches to human–animal relationships, especially where simplification may endanger human and/or animal lives.

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Do Kids and Adults Value Animal Lives Differently

Psychology Today

2022

Humans have various reasons for valuing some species over others. Researchers asked adults and children of different ages to rank animals from people to worms in the order they would give them a lifesaving drug. In some ways, the children were similar to adults in how they valued the species, but in other ways they were very different. There are subtle shifts in how humans prioritize different species as we develop from childhood into adults.

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Variability in Human-Animal Interaction Research

Frontiers in Veterinary Science

2021

The field of Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) is plagued with mixed results. Some findings appear to indicate that interacting with a companion animal is beneficial for some aspect of human health and well-being, while other research outcomes are inconclusive or even indicate the opposite.

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