| Youth at risk for escalation into crime can lack the emotional tools necessary for healthy interpersonal and intrapersonal functioning. Typically learned through healthy attachments in childhood, these skills can influence how a child views themselves, thinks about the world, and emotionally relates to others. The effect participation in a Human Animal Interaction (HAI) program had on the emotional intelligence (EQ), empathy, and antisocial cognitive distortions of at-risk adolescent youth was examined in the current study. For participants (N=35), there was found to be a significant increase in overall EQ, t (-5.18) = p.000, d = .88, and empathy, t (-3.64) = p.001, d =.62 as well as a significant decrease in antisocial cognitive distortions, t (6.94) = p.000, d = 1.17 following involvement in the program. The positive findings are discussed and clinical implications are presented. Recommendations are also made in light of limitations and delimitations identified. |
