MENTAL HEALTH OF ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

"Barry Clausen, a critic of the Animal Rights movement and author of
the book Burning Rage [ISBN 097000379X], has studied the animal rights
movement for 12 years"...

"Clausen does not pull any punches when it comes to his opinion of the
animal rights activists. "I have not come across one of these people
who I did not consider to be mentally ill," Clausen said."

from the article:
Christianity Harmful to Animals, Says Animal Rights Godfather
By Marc Morano
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
July 01, 2002

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=\Culture\archive\
200207\CUL20020701b.html

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Dr. James Swan (Enviromental Psychology) in his book "In Defense of
Hunting" examines the motivations of AR supporters (who BTW tend to be
predominantly white, urban, and female). He states:

"It is possible that some animal rights activists have taken up their
cause because they are emotionally immature and are acting out
repressed rage and hatred from emotional wounds from parental abuse or
from failed love affairs, seeing the plight of "defenseless animals"
as symbolically similar to how they may feel they have been personally
treated by a dominating human..."  [p. 188]

And:

"Vegetarianism can be an act of spiritual devotion and greater health,
and it can also be an early symptom of guilt-driven suicide." [p.188]

And:

"It is not necessarily an intense love of animals that prompts
individuals to participate in the animal rights movement. Peter
Singer, whose book "Animal Liberation" is seen as the jumping-off
place for the modern animal rights campaign, openly states that he is
not inordinately fond of animals. Wayne Pacelle [national director
Fund for Animals] says he feels the same way..." [p 116]

And:

"A 1990 Gallup Poll of one thousand Americans asked the question:
"Certain animal rights groups want a total ban on all types of
hunting. Do you support or oppose this goal?" Of the respondents, 77
percent opposed this goal. The poll found that 72 percent did have at
least some respect for the positions which animal rights activists
take, but 90 percent opposed hunter harassment. And when asked about
their overall attitudes toward animal rights activists, only 7 percent
agreed with what the animal rights groups are trying to accomplish and
approve of how they are going about it." [p.163]

James A. Swan. 1995. "In Defense of Hunting". HarperCollins, New York.
ISBN 0-06-251237-4

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