Humans and pets and attachment.
The bond between human and pet depends on their commonality as animals and their mutual need for attachment. Under abnormal circumstances of developmental frustration a human may displace an overdetermined need for attachment to the pet. The attachment relationship is pathological because of its defensive purpose, and its interruption can create enduring psychiatric reactions. The paper details the developmental determinants for this interaction.
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D011613:Psychotherapy; D014167:Transference, Psychology