Eating with our eyes (closed): Effects of visually associating animals with meat on anti-vegan/vegetarian attitudes and meat consumption willingness

Earle, Megan, Hodson, Gordon, Dhont, Kristof, MacInnis, Cara C. (2019) Eating with our eyes (closed): Effects of visually associating animals with meat on anti-vegan/vegetarian attitudes and meat consumption willingness. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, . ISSN 1368-4302. E-ISSN 1461-7188. (In press) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided)

Abstract

Negative attitudes toward vegetarians/vegans (i.e., veg*ns) are common, particularly among those who desire/like/consume meat more. In two studies, we replicated and extended past work, showing that visual reminders of meat’s animal origins (vs. images of meat alone) decreased meat consumption willingness via increased empathy for animals, distress about meat consumption, and disgust for meat. We also assessed how animal-meat reminders influence antiveg*n attitudes. In Study 1 (N = 299) experimental animal-meat reminders (vs. meat alone images) indirectly reduced negative attitudes toward veg*ns via increased empathy and distress (together, but not independently). The same manipulation in Study 2 (N = 280) lowered antiveg*n attitudes through greater empathy and lowered veg*n threat through greater distress. Implications for promoting less anti-veg*n attitudes are discussed.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Faculties > Social Sciences > School of Psychology > Centre for the Study of Group Processes Faculties > Social Sciences > School of Psychology Faculties > Social Sciences > School of Psychology > Social Psychology
Depositing User:	Kristof Dhont
Date Deposited:	26 Mar 2019 20:52 UTC
Last Modified:	13 Jun 2019 15:03 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/73219 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)