Why You Might Love Animals More Than People (And Why That's Okay)

If you find yourself getting more upset over animals than people, or simply preferring the company of a pet to a crowd of humans, you're far from alone. Many people feel a deep, powerful bond with animals, and there is nothing unusual about that. For some individuals, the empathy and respect they feel for animals can be just as strong as, or stronger than, the forms of human connection they experience. Animals also seem to sense and communicate in response to human emotion, which can make the bond feel especially mutual. Below, explore why you might feel closer to animals than people, what the research says, and where to find support if you'd like it.

Is it normal to love animals more than people?

Preferring animals over people is a common experience, and there is nothing wrong with you if you feel this way. Many people find comfort, calm, and connection in the company of animals that can feel harder to find with other humans. There are several understandable reasons why this happens.

For one, animals tend to offer affection without conditions or expectations. They also communicate in simpler, more direct ways than people often do, which can feel refreshing. And research into empathy suggests our emotional responses may have more to do with how vulnerable we perceive someone to be than with whether they're human or animal. In one study, participants showed similar levels of empathy for a baby, a puppy, and an adult dog. If you've ever felt a pull toward animals that's hard to explain, exploring why they can feel easier to connect with may help it make more sense.

Why animals may feel easier to love than humans

Human relationships can be rewarding, but they can also feel complicated, unpredictable, or emotionally demanding. Animals, by contrast, tend to offer a kind of steady, uncomplicated warmth. Their unconditional love can fill a need that many people carry: to be accepted exactly as they are. Here are a few reasons animals may feel easier to connect with than people:

• Animals don't judge you based on your appearance, your choices, or your mood.
• They tend to offer affection freely, without expecting much in return.
• Many animals are loyal and consistent, greeting you the same way each day.
• Their communication tends to be simpler and more direct than human interaction.
• Their calming presence can offer comfort during stressful moments.

Animals may also respond to human emotion in ways that make us feel understood, which can deepen the sense that they truly get us. To understand this bond more fully, it can help to look closer at what makes it feel so different from human relationships.

Animals offer connection without complexity

One of the things that can make bonding with a pet feel so restful is the absence of the social pressures we navigate with people. There are no unspoken expectations, no fear of saying the wrong thing, and no worry about being evaluated. Because animals don't judge, many people feel free to be fully themselves around them. That kind of non-judgmental presence can be especially soothing for anyone who finds human interaction draining or anxiety-provoking.

The role of unconditional affection

Many people yearn for someone who loves them for who they are, who has zero expectations, and who is always happy to see them no matter how grumpy they may feel. In human relationships, this kind of acceptance can be difficult to find, especially among adults. Pets, however, can help fill this need, offering a form of unconditional affection that asks little in return. This steady acceptance is part of what makes the human-animal bond so meaningful, and it also has roots in how our empathy works.

The psychology behind feeling closer to animals

Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, can be a complex skill for humans. It helps to understand the definition of empathy, which is "the ability to sense other people's emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling." Compassion goes a step further, involving not only understanding someone's suffering but also the motivation to help relieve it.

Constant media exposure to violence, loss, and despair may lead some people to become increasingly desensitized to the suffering of other humans. Some research suggests social media may contribute to reduced empathy for others. So why can it feel so easy to generate empathy for suffering animals? Research suggests that people who are high in emotional intelligence may also have heightened empathy for animals.

Empathy and perceived vulnerability

A study by criminologist Jack Levin offers one possible answer. Participants were asked to respond to a fake news story about a person who was assaulted with a baseball bat and left unconscious with several broken limbs. The story stayed the same except for one detail: the identity of the person harmed, which was either a one-year-old baby, an adult human, a six-year-old dog, or a puppy.

Researchers concluded that empathy levels may be unrelated to species and more closely tied to perceived vulnerability and helplessness. People may impulsively care for babies and animals because they seem unable to easily help themselves, while adult humans tend to be perceived as more capable of speaking up or defending themselves. This can also help explain the human-animal bond many people experience, since pets rely on their owners for care much as a child would.

Highly sensitive people and animal connections

For some individuals, sensitivity may play a role in how strongly they connect with animals. Highly sensitive people, or those with strong responses to various forms of stimuli, may be drawn to animals and natural environments. In a 2022 study, researchers found that participants who were highly sensitive had a stronger emotional connection to animals. This may be partly due to their capacity for experiencing a sense of wonder and respect for the natural world. Of course, sensitivity is just one explanation among several, and many people who feel drawn to animals wouldn't describe themselves as highly sensitive. Whatever the reason, animals also seem remarkably attuned to us in return.

How animals sense and respond to human emotions

The connection between people and animals often goes both ways. Recent research suggests that certain chemical signals, facial cues, or other indicators may attract animals or evoke specific responses in them. Specialists in behavior and social psychology have also long noted that different species, including humans, form bonds in similar ways.

Reading emotional cues

Much of an animal's understanding comes from paying close attention to how people move, sound, and even smell. Many animals communicate through their sense of smell, behaving differently when they encounter an unfamiliar scent or gravitating toward areas that carry their owner's scent. Animals also read non-verbal signals. Pets can pick up on emotional cues and detect when humans are:

• On alert
• At peace
• Afraid
• Angry
• Stressed

Because animals process so many signals at once, the way a person carries themselves can shape how animals respond to them.

Why some people naturally attract animals

Some animals seem to gravitate toward people whose emotional energy matches their own. Animals may feel more at peace with people who exude calm, non-threatening energy, which can help explain why a pet might choose one person over another for affection or comfort. People who treat animals with compassion may be more likely to experience positive interactions in return.

Mental health benefits of the human-animal bond

The reasons people love animals aren't based on empathy alone. The truth is, animals, and particularly pets, may offer humans a variety of powerful benefits, many of which support mental and emotional well-being.

Emotional support and stress reduction

Interactions with pets can be a mood booster and a stress reducer. Spending time with a pet has been found to lower blood pressure and reduce stress hormones, releasing chemicals that trigger relaxation even when there's a lot on your plate. Here are some of the emotional benefits people often experience:

• Reduced stress and lower cortisol levels
• Improved mood and a sense of calm
• Greater self-esteem and overall well-being
• A feeling of unconditional acceptance

Beyond these emotional lifts, animals can also help people feel less alone.

Building connection through animal companionship

Studies have found that pet owners and animal lovers may be less likely to feel lonely. Pet ownership has been found to be associated with lower levels of social isolation and increased social support. Pets can also make it easier to connect with other people, since someone walking a dog or spending time at the dog park may be more approachable.

Research also suggests that human-animal interactions in nature can contribute to mental well-being. You can help animals feel comfortable in your presence by offering positive reinforcement, staying calm, and treating them with the same respect you'd give a human friend. If you're curious about how to strengthen your own emotional well-being, a licensed therapist can help you get started.

When preferring animals to people may signal something deeper

*Based on finalized paid psychiatry visits with a copay. Insurance availability, coverage, and costs vary by state, plan, provider network, and provider availability.

You may have noticed that you feel a stronger connection with animals than with people, and it's worth repeating that this is OK. You may simply prefer the ways animals communicate or enjoy the sense of hope and wonder they can offer. At the same time, for some people, a strong preference for animal companionship can be connected to experiences like social anxiety, past hurt, or difficulty trusting others.

Signs you might benefit from support

Preferring animals is not a problem in itself, but a few experiences may be worth exploring with a professional. These can include:

• Feeling significant anxiety in social situations with people
• Finding it difficult to trust or open up to other humans
• Feeling isolated from people or lacking human connection you'd like to have

If any of these resonate, therapy may help you explore your feelings, address potential sources of distress, and develop coping strategies at your own pace. Online therapy can be one option, letting you connect with a therapist from the comfort of home if social situations feel overwhelming.

For those who may benefit from additional support, BetterHelp now offers psychiatry services through Uplift as an additional care option available alongside therapy, which can include medication management when clinically appropriate and as determined by a licensed psychiatric provider. Not everyone needs or benefits from medication, and any such decisions are personalized and based on a full clinical evaluation.

Some providers on BetterHelp may also be in-network with certain health plans, and you can check in-network status on the BetterHelp site. Coverage varies by plan, provider, and therapist availability. When you're ready, you can get started and be matched with a licensed therapist who fits your needs.

Coping with the loss of a beloved pet

Those who have lost pets may have experienced a painful grieving process. Many people consider their pets to be an important part of the family, and losing a pet can affect a person as much as losing a human family member. If you have recently lost a beloved pet, talking with a therapist may help you process your feelings.

In grief counseling, a professional can help you work through feelings of sorrow after a loss. Grief therapists may use different approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps people learn how to reframe unhelpful thoughts. CBT has been shown to produce considerable reductions in prolonged grief disorder, and it has also been shown to help reduce relapses in depressive symptoms. When you're mourning, it can be difficult to get up and go to a counselor in person. With online therapy, you can speak with a counselor from home, your office, or anywhere you have an internet connection.

How effective can online therapy be for grief and low mood?

For those coping with the loss of a pet or other difficult emotions, online therapy may offer a meaningful path toward relief. One randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression was as beneficial as face-to-face treatment, with symptom improvements that held steady three months after treatment.

This may be reflected in real-world outcomes, as 72% of BetterHelp users reported experiencing a reduction in symptoms in 12 weeks. Being able to reach your counselor at a preferred time may add flexibility that makes support easier to receive during a hard season. The cost of online therapy via BetterHelp ranges from $70 to $100 per week, billed weekly or monthly, with costs based on your location, referral source, preferences, any applicable discounts, and therapist availability. In addition, some providers on BetterHelp may be in-network with certain health plans, and co-pays average about $23/session for eligible members. Coverage varies by plan, provider, and therapist availability. You can check in-network status on the BetterHelp site.