Title

Halloween, Superstition, and Black Cat Bias

Authors

Brianna Gavin, University of DaytonFollow

Comments

Faculty: Dr. Greg Elvers (Psychology)

Files

Abstract

Black Cat Bias (BCB): “Cats with black coats are viewed more negatively, adopted less often, and euthanized more often than lighter colored cats” (Jones & Hart, in press)

Shelter records of 2170 cats showed black cats stay in shelter about one month longer than non-black cats (Kubesova, Voslarova, Cecerek, & Vucinic, 2017)

Length of stay in shelter positively correlated with risk of contracting URI (Dinnage, Scarlett, & Richards, 2009) and coronavirus (Pedersen, Sato, Foley, & Poland, 2004)

Jones and Hart (in press) found black cats were perceived as more aggressive and less friendly than non-black cats

Jones and Hart (in press) found that black cat bias (friendliness, aggressiveness, willingness to adopt) was predicted by superstitious behaviors, but not religiosity nor racial attitudes

Publication Date

11-21-2019

Keywords

student scholarship

Disciplines

Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Work | Sociology

Recommended Citation

Gavin, Brianna, "Halloween, Superstition, and Black Cat Bias" (2019). Content presented at the Roesch Social Sciences Symposium. 1.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/roesch_symposium_content/1