Longitudinal effects of human supremacy beliefs and vegetarianism threat on moral exclusion (vs. inclusion) of animals

Leite, Ana C.; Dhont, Kristof; Hodson, Gordon

Abstract

Stronger beliefs in human supremacy over animals, and stronger perceived threat posed by vegetarianism to traditional practices, are associated with stronger speciesism and more meat consumption. Both variables might also be implicated in the moral exclusion of animals. We tested this potential in a 16‐month longitudinal study in the USA (N = 219). Human supremacy showed longitudinal effects on the moral exclusion of all animals. Vegetarianism threat only predicted moral exclusion of food animals (e.g., cows and pigs), and, unexpectedly, appealing wild animals (e.g., chimps and dolphins). These findings demonstrate the importance of both human supremacy and perceived threat in explaining moral exclusion of animals and highlight potential paradoxical negative consequences of the rise of vegetarianism.

Citation

Leite, A. C., Dhont, K., & Hodson, G. (2018). Longitudinal effects of human supremacy beliefs and vegetarianism threat on moral exclusion (vs. inclusion) of animals. European Journal of Social Psychology, 49(1), 179-189. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2497

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 13, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Apr 21, 2018
• Publication Date: Apr 21, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jun 12, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 13, 2019
• Journal: European Journal of Social Psychology
• Print ISSN: 0046-2772
• Electronic ISSN: 1099-0992
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 49
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 179-189
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2497
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1329007
• Related Public URLs: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/66768/