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Moral emotions and justifying beliefs about meat, fish, dairy and egg consumption: A comparative study of dietary groups

Ioannidou, Maria; Lesk, Valerie; Stewart-Knox, B; Francis, Kathryn

Moral emotions and justifying beliefs about meat, fish, dairy and egg consumption: A comparative study of dietary groups Thumbnail


Authors

Maria Ioannidou

Valerie Lesk

B Stewart-Knox



Abstract

Meat eaters and meat abstainers differ in their beliefs and moral emotions related to meat consumption alongside gender differences. Few studies have investigated beliefs and moral emotions in pescatarians and vegans. Little is known about differences in moral emotions and beliefs regarding dairy, eggs, and fish or about speciesist beliefs within and between specific dietary groups. To address this gap, we investigated moral emotions (consumption-related disgust and guilt), attitudes towards animals (Animal Attitudes Scale) and justifying beliefs related to meat (Carnism Inventory), dairy, egg, and fish consumption in omnivores (n = 167), pescatarians (n = 110), vegetarians (n = 116), and vegans (n = 149). Results showed that people who consumed animal-derived products reported lower disgust and guilt and held stronger justifying beliefs about consumption of these products, than those who did not consume animal products. All dietary groups significantly differed from each other in their attitudes about using animals for human benefit, with omnivores showing the least positive attitudes towards animals, followed by pescatarians and vegetarians, and with vegans showing the most positive attitudes towards animals. Women experienced greater moral emotions and held fewer justifying beliefs than men within groups where animal products were consumed and this was related to the animal-based products they consume (i.e., fish for pescatarians and eggs/dairy for vegetarians). These findings emphasise the importance of considering a wider range of animal products, and dietary groups in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the psychological underpinnings of animal product consumption. The results highlight differences between dietary groups in attitudes and moral concern towards animals, which may be important to consider when designing interventions to reduce animal product consumption.

Citation

Ioannidou, M., Lesk, V., Stewart-Knox, B., & Francis, K. (2023). Moral emotions and justifying beliefs about meat, fish, dairy and egg consumption: A comparative study of dietary groups. Appetite, 186, Article 106544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2023.106544

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 18, 2023
Online Publication Date Mar 23, 2023
Publication Date Jul 1, 2023
Publicly Available Date May 30, 2023
Journal Appetite
Print ISSN 0195-6663
Electronic ISSN 1095-8304
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 186
Article Number 106544
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2023.106544
Keywords Food choice; Vegetarian; Vegan; Omnivore; Pescatarian; Moral emotion; Disgust; Guilt; Carnistic beliefs
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666323000971?via%3Dihub

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