What if dogs acted like people?

What if dogs acted like people?

Would these two be friends? ? ?

Could these two get married? ? Would their child be accepted?

Would she see him as lower class… …even though they are alike? ?

Would this really happen?

If color didn’t matter…. …would nationality? ? American French English

Would she be allowed on the couch… …if he was in charge? ?

Would they get bullied… …if she knew she was smarter? ?

Or what if they told us… …they really are like us? ?

Doesn’t the Davis and Moore Theory apply to dogs? • Certain positions in any society are functionally more important than others, and require special skills to fill them. • Only a limited number of dogs in any society have the talents that can be trained into the skills appropriate to these positions. • The conversion of talents into skills involves a training period during which sacrifices of one kind or another are made by those undergoing the training. • In order to induce the talented dogs to undergo these sacrifices and acquire the training, their future positions must carry an inducement value in the form of a differential – that is, privileged and disproportionate access to the scarce and desired rewards the society has to offer. • These scarce and desired goods consist of the rights and prerequisites attached to, or built into, the positions, and can be classified into those things that contribute to a sustenance and comfort, humor and diversion, and self-respect and ego expansion. (Kerbo, p.120)

Certain positions in any society are functionally more important than others, and require special skills to fill them.

Only a limited number of dogs in any society have the talents that can be trained into the skills appropriate to these positions.

The conversion of talents into skills involves a training period during which sacrifices of one kind or another are made by those undergoing the training.

In order to induce the talented dogs to undergo these sacrifices and acquire the training, their future positions must carry an inducement value in the form of a differential – that is, privileged and disproportionate access to the scarce and desired rewards the society has to offer.

These scarce and desired goods consist of the rights and prerequisites attached to, or built into, the positions, and can be classified into those things that contribute to a sustenance and comfort, humor and diversion, and self-respect and ego expansion.

No wonder dogs are man’s best friend… …they are like us.

References Kerbo, H.R. (2012). Social Stratification and Inequality (8th ed.) New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

What if dogs acted like people?