The team found a number of personal characteristics related to the likelihood of being bitten by dogs. For example, children under the age of 15 are most at risk and account for 44% of dog bites, and men are almost twice as likely to be bitten by women. In particular, the results of the personality test of the volunteers participating in the survey showed that people with psychotic disorders were 22% more likely to be bitten by dogs than those with stable emotions. According to Dr. Coren, a mentally unstable person is often described as being surrounded by insecurity, fear, low self-esteem and anxiety. Recent studies have also shown that people with psychosis experience more severe mental health problems than others, from substance abuse to anxiety disorders. Physically, they are at an increased risk of asthma, cardiovascular disease, and irritable bowel syndrome.The team from the University of Liverpool has not been able to explain why psychotic people are often bitten by dogs. Dr. Coren said that the anxiety and anxiety of this group of subjects caused their bodies to emit pheromones (odor molecules with biological significance). "Some pheromones are calming dogs, but it doesn't rule out the possibility that there are pheromones that make the animal more aggressive," he said. In addition, a psychologically unstable person may also engage in behaviors that will make dogs more attentive to them. When anxious, humans will manifest outwardly, like the boy reaching out to Dr. Coren and the dog who is a master of body language reading. Not to mention, emotions can be contagious. Seeing someone who is unsettled and afraid, we are easily upset. "It is possible that dogs can sense the same thing and that discomfort causes them to attack," says Dr. Coren. "Psychologically volatile people become targets for bites just because they make dogs nearby uncomfortable."
