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Devaluing animals, "animalistic" humans, and people who protect animals

Hodson, Gordon and Dhont, Kristof and Earle, Megan (2020) Devaluing animals, "animalistic" humans, and people who protect animals. In: Why We Love and Exploit Animals: Bridging Insights from Academia and Advocacy. Routledge, pp. 67-89. ISBN 978-0-8153-9665-9. (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) (KAR id:79352)

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. (Contact us about this Publication)
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Abstract

The central premise of the present chapter is that humans routinely undervalue animals relative to themselves. This devaluing has implications not only for animals, in terms of welfare and exploitation, but also for humans. For instance, devaluing animals increases the social value of representing other social groups as animal-like, thus denying these human groups the protections otherwise afforded to humans (and one’s own group). But there are also implications for those who protect animals or, at minimum, refuse to engage in the exploitation of animals. Recent research demonstrates that among many meat eaters, vegans and vegetarians are relatively disliked and viewed as threatening. This is particularly the case for vegans and vegetarians who cite animal justice (vs health or environmental concerns) for their renunciation of meat. Overall the research record increasingly shows that our thinking about animals is intimately and systematically linked to our thinking about other human groups in ways that entrench dominance over animals and those mentally associated with animals. The implications of these associations are explored.

Item Type: Book section
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Kristof Dhont
Date Deposited: 18 Dec 2019 16:50 UTC
Last Modified: 29 Sep 2021 11:03 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/79352 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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