Man and Cat [antikvár]

The ongoing scientific research studying nature and the animal world in their impact on the life and survival of man has likewise caused psychologists to focus systematically and empirically on the relationships between human beings and animals. In a previous study we have highlighted the dog as the partner of man and attempted to show the nature of this relationship, along with its potential significance and effects. The lively scientific as well as widely public debate of this topic induced us to subject the cat to scientific scrutiny as well. The results of this inquiry can be found in this volume. Again we are facing a vast amount of data that we cannot include in its entirety; however, all major findings will be introduced and great care was taken to make the methodological process leading to these findings transparent. (All calculations were performed on an IBM 3081 at the RH Computer Centre in Bonn.) A word of thanks belongs to all those who in many discussions have offered suggestions and provided creative and stimulating critique. I am indebted to my assistants and staff who have helped me so greatly with the planning, the execution, the evaluation and statistical analysis of the study. My gratitude no less belongs to all those who participated in the preparation of the manuscript, who provided critical reading, heightened the intelligibility of the text and eliminated stylistic stumbling blocks. It is a pleasure to cooperate with a team of people who enjoy their work. Many thanks to: Ulrike Bolle, Dr Emil Bruckert, Renate Finck, Dietmar Haase, Ursula Mandel, Werner Müller, Jutta Tschech, Hanna Vogett, and Cordelia Zipperling. Reinhold Bergler Bonn, September 1989