Percepções biecológicas e características socioculturais de estudantes influenciam em suas atitudes sobre vertebrados silvestres

Abstract

The origin of different human emotions towards animals (whether in the utilitarian, affective, conflictual or cosmological context) is strongly influenced by socioeconomic factors although our genetic predispositions seem more significant in the origin of these emotions. In relation to wildlife, such emotions guide people's perceptions of different species. Perceptions that in turn can affect people's attitudes towards fauna, so understanding the factors that shape such attitudes is a key element for conservation decision-making. In this sense, the main objective of this study was to analyze how socioeconomic characteristics and bioecological perceptions can influence students' attitudes of empathy or antipathy towards vertebrate species. As well as, which classes and species arouse greater and lesser support in people for their conservation. For this, 667 interviews were carried out with urban (n=1) and rural (n=2) school students in the city of Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil. Through generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) we found that students from urban areas more frequently express attitudes of empathy and antipathy towards wild animals. Regarding gender, women had a higher frequency of responses associated with aversion than men. We found a strong relationship between positive perceptions and empathetic attitudes towards the species and vice versa. For example, species perceived as useful, harmless and important to nature arouse students' empathetic attitudes more frequently (p< 0.001). While for the species perceived as dangerous and poisonous, the attitudes of antipathy were more frequent (p< 0.001), even to the point that the student wanted some species to go extinct. Through multiple factor analysis (MFA) we found greater support (empathy) for the conservation of fish species (31.56%), birds (29.37%) and mammals (25.94%), with emphasis on the Galo de Campina species (Paroaria dominicana) and clownfish (Amphiprion ocelares) and less support (antipathy) for species of reptiles and amphibians such as the rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus) and horn frog (Ceratophrys joazeirensis). The attitudinal ambivalence, reflected by varying empathy for certain species and aversion for others, has important implications for wildlife conservation. Understanding the socioeconomic factors and emotions behind attitudes towards animals allows integrating educational strategies for the conservation of species, especially those culturally important.