Emotional Constant w/ Chris Blazina
You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the other podcast platforms. New episodes post on Tuesdays.
Looking At The Psychology Behind “Man’s Best Friend”
About The Episode
After being a professor and researcher for 20 years, Dr. Chris Blazina realized he wanted to pivot to focus on studying the psychology of male clients. There’s a lot to unpack with any given person – from their upbringing to how they try to navigate the world of “masculinity” (which, unfortunately, can often be toxic), and the types of relationships men have with other humans.
With men and dogs, however, the bond can be unique – and for some, crucial. There’s a reason why the phrase “Man’s Best Friend” exists (although, of course, it’s not exclusive to a gender).
For around 15 years now, Chris has been thinking about the question of why dogs are so important to men. Part of his insight comes from his own experience. Growing up, he had a dog with whom he had a deep connection with and of whom he learned to communicate with and be a listener in a special way that only dogs can teach us.
As he got older, and with the more clients he spoke to, it all tied together with one key aspect. When other people in a man’s life can be unreliable or disappointing, dogs are a stable and reliable part of one’s life. They are an emotional constant. You know what to predict with their behavior and responses. This can be very grounding, making a key difference in maintaining a stable foundation.
About The Guest - Dr. Chris Blazina
Dr. Chris Blazina is a licensed psychologist, retired professor, and award-winning author. He has been in practice for nearly 25 years, focusing in particular on men and their depression, anxiety, life transitions, grief & loss, relationship problems, and pet bereavement. In his work, Chris has found dogs to be an important companion and part of a male’s life that is not able to be found in the same way as with any human.
Featured Links
Dr. Chris Blazina’s website - http://www.chrisblazinaphd.com
Dr. Chris Blazina on Twitter - https://twitter.com/DrChrisBlazina
Dr. Chris Blaizna’s book When Man Meets Dog: What a difference a dog makes! on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/When-Man-Meets-Chris-Blazina/dp/1845848799/
Dr. Chris Blaizna’s book Men and Their Dogs: A New Understanding of Man's Best Friend on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Men-Their-Dogs-Understanding-Friend/dp/3319300954/
Dr. Chris Blaizna’s book Clinician's Guide to Treating Companion Animal Issues: Addressing Human-Animal Interaction on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/012812962X
Dr. Chris Blaizna’s book The Psychology of the Human-Animal Bond: A Resource for Clinicians and Researchers on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/The-Psychology-Human-Animal-Bond-Researchers/dp/1461461960
Dogs Deserve Better - https://dogsdeservebetter.org