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Cat people are smarter than dog people, new study shows

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C

ComputerMKII

Banned
I'm ok with this

Cat People Are Smarter Than Dog People, New Study Shows

SAN FRANCISCO — "Dog people" and "cat people" really do have different personalities, according to a new study.

People who said they were dog lovers in the study tended to be more lively — meaning they were more energetic and outgoing — and also tended to follow rules closely. Cat lovers, on the other hand, were more introverted, more open-minded and more sensitive than dog lovers. Cat people also tended to be non-conformists, preferring to be expedient rather than follow the rules.

And in a finding that's sure to spark rivalries among pet owners, cat lovers scored higher on intelligence than dog lovers. [Here, Kitty, Kitty: 10 Facts for Cat Lovers]

Part of the reason for the personality differences may be related to the types of environments cat or dog people prefer, said study researcher Denise Guastello, an associate professor of psychology at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin, who presented the findings here at the annual Association for Psychological Science meeting.

"It makes sense that a dog person is going to be more lively, because they're going to want to be out there, outside, talking to people, bringing their dog," Guastello said. "Whereas, if you're more introverted, and sensitive, maybe you're more at home reading a book, and your cat doesn't need to go outside for a walk."

The researchers surveyed 600 college students, asking whether they would identify themselves as dog lovers or cat lovers, and what qualities they found most attractive in their pets. Participants also answered a slew of questions to assess their personality.

More people said they were dog lovers than cat lovers: About 60 percent of participants identified themselves as dog people, compared with 11 percent who said they were cat people. (The rest said they liked both animals, or neither animal.)

Dog lovers found companionship to be the most attractive quality in their pet dogs, while cat people liked the affection from their cats.

It's possible that people may select pets based on their own personality, Guastello said. For example, cats are often seen as independent animals that keep to themselves, and are cautious of others.

"If you're like that, you appreciate that in an animal, it’s a better match for you," Guastello said.

Studying the reasons people identify as cat or dog lovers may also improve pet therapy, leading to better matches between owners and pets who participate in pet therapy, the researcher said.

Because the study involved college students, it's not known whether the results apply to other age groups, Guastello said. But previous studies have had similar findings. A 2010 study of more than 4,500 people found that dog lovers tend to be more extroverted (or outgoing), and conscientious (or rule-following).
Click to expand...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/29/cat-people-dog-people-intelligence_n_5412245.html
 
D

Deleted member 22576

Unconfirmed Member
Well yeah, we're cat people. Duh.
 
N

Not Spaceghost

Spaceghost
Shit is rigged, with a smaller of 11% it's far more likely that cat people will include more of one kind keeping their score artificially high, while dogs are more awesome and everyone wants out keeping their scores closer to a middle ground.
 
D

Doran902

Member
I'm okay with being dumb, me and my retriever will be dumb together.

I'd be okay with cats if I wasn't horribly horribly allergic to them.
 
I

ICKE

Banned
andymcc said:
cats are awful.
Click to expand...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5vZHw0EVgs

wrong.gif
 
E

Extra Sauce

Member
Makes sense. More physically active people tend to prefer dogs, while more intellectually active people tend to prefer cats.

(not saying you can't be both of those things, just saying)
 
F

FriedConsole

Banned
This study illustrates more about how pop psychology and psychology is headed in the wrong direction.

1. Useless
2. Seems like more of a Cosmo or Buzzfeed quiz
3. Small sample size from a narrow demographic
4. Does nothing to help people with real mental issues
5. Wastes academic resources
6. Will waste more resources with the inevitable study that proves this is B.S.

If anybody has ever taken a Phyc 101 class and been participants in these "studies", you would know how they use total BS to come to these conclusions.

Even people who have psychology/psychiatry degrees will tell you how much of their profession is BS and how few tools they have to help people. Most of it these days seems to be "hey take this drug".
 
A

andymcc

Banned
xtrasauce said:
Makes sense. More physically active people tend to prefer dogs, while more intellectually active people tend to prefer cats.

(not saying you can't be both of those things, just saying)
Click to expand...

cats are much lower-maintenance and non-committal so it makes sense if physically lazy, unsocial people prefer them.
 
A

Acorn

Member
We'll see who's laughing when the apocalypse happens. My dog will help me hunt cat people for my cannibal clan, you'll be defenceless after your Cats abandon you once the food runs out.
 
T

ThoseDeafMutes

Member
FriedConsole said:
This study illustrates more about how pop psychology and psychology is headed in the wrong direction.

1. Useless
2. Seems like more of a Cosmo or Buzzfeed quiz
3. Small sample size from a narrow demographic
4. Does nothing to help people with real mental issues
5. Wastes academic resources
6. Will waste more resources with the inevitable study that proves this is B.S.
Click to expand...

Demographics issue is legit, sample size issue is not. 600 people is plenty if the sample is representative.


Even people who have psychology/psychiatry degrees will tell you how much of their profession is BS and how few tools they have to help people. Most of it these days seems to be "hey take this drug".
Click to expand...

No you are speaking nonsense and making gross generalization.
 
K

KrellRell

Member
FriedConsole said:
This study illustrates more about how pop psychology and psychology is headed in the wrong direction.

1. Useless
2. Seems like more of a Cosmo or Buzzfeed quiz
3. Small sample size from a narrow demographic
4. Does nothing to help people with real mental issues
5. Wastes academic resources
6. Will waste more resources with the inevitable study that proves this is B.S.

If anybody has ever taken a Phyc 101 class and been participants in these "studies", you would know how they use total BS to come to these conclusions.

Even people who have psychology/psychiatry degrees will tell you how much of their profession is BS and how few tools they have to help people. Most of it these days seems to be "hey take this drug".
Click to expand...

Dog lover? Haha, but seriously this isn't the first study that deals with this subject.
Cat owners are more educated than dog owners

Sure we can argue about how useless the study is, but isn't posting on this forum all day useless anyway?
 
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