Vegetarian Social, Psychological and Moral Development

How Readable Are Your Animal Advocacy Materials?

Carol L. Glasser — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:00:00 -0800

The most exciting project this new year, is the release of our latest study examining how easy it is for the average person to read and understand animal advocacy literature. Specifically, HRC partnered with VegFund and FARM to evaluate the readability of the most widely distributed vegan outreach pamphlets.

Readability of Vegan Outreach Literature

HRC Admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

To evaluate the readability of such materials in a more robust and transparent manner, the Humane Research Council (HRC) partnered with VegFund and FARM to test a selection of outreach materials that are commonly used by vegan advocates. The average readability scores placed these materials in the range of the 11th grade reading level or higher, which is three to four grade levels higher than the average U.S. adult.

Where To Go From Here: Thoughts on Preventing Veg'n Recidivism

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:45:00 -0800

Now that we have explored what recidivism can look like and offered some social factors that may inhibit veganism, what does this mean for our movement at large? How can movement leaders and individual activists take this information to encourage people to try veganism and offer the right support to keep them from backsliding?

Veg'n Recidivism: Why is it Happening?

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:13:41 -0800

Advocates can use sociological theories to understand some of the social and cultural barriers to vegetarian maintenance. During the course of my interviews with ex-veg'ns I found six common reasons as to why they struggled with the practice. These include family relationships, identity, the ambiguity of the veg'n label, gender roles, the influence of peers, and the temporary nature of trends.

Gender Differences in Family and Peer Reaction to the Adoption of a Vegetarian Diet

Carol L. Glasser — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 07:45:00 -0800

This paper examines reactions of peers and family members to college students when they decide to become vegetarian. The author found, contrary to some other research, that men had more leniency from those in their social circles. Women were often confronted with paternalism, but overcame it with what the author labeled "moral resilience."

HRC Happenings: Guest Bloggers and Grassroots Research

Che Green — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:45:00 -0800

Do you know a small organization doing great work for animals? If so, please make sure they hear about HRC's Grassroots Research Fund, the deadline for which is now just one month away (January 1st). The group(s) we select will receive pro bono research projects of up to $5,000 to help them evaluate and improve their work and help more animals. Also, any donations to HRC during the month of December will be earmarked for the Grassroots Research Fund so that we can help even more small groups in 2012. And be sure to check out our two guest blogs from the past month covering the topics of Big Black Dog syndrome and vegetarian/vegan recidivism. Thank you for reading!

Gender Specific Preferences and Attitudes Towards Meat

Carol L. Glasser — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 07:45:00 -0800

Researchers used surveys and taste tests to examine gender differences in preferences for meat. They found that the color, flavor, odor, and texture affect preference for meat, in that order. Overall, women were less likely to prefer red meat than men.

Returning to Meat: Who is Doing It, How it Happens, and What This Means for the Veg'n Movement

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:45:00 -0800

For my master's thesis I sought to answer a very simple but important question that may offer assistance to both the strength and future of vegetarianism: Why do vegetarians go back to meat? What I call "vegetarian recidivism" or "backsliding." To begin to answer this question I thought of “going veg” within the context of a social movement. Within this body of literature researchers have investigated both what mobilizes and stabilizes members of a social movement, but there is scant research addressing why people disengage from a social movement. Further, within the body of research addressing vegetarianism specifically, there were several reputable studies investigating the process of becoming vegan, but very little about the barriers and struggles to maintaining the practice.

Don't Mind Meat? The Denial of Mind to Animals Used for Human Consumption

Carol L. Glasser — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 08:45:00 -0800

Researchers conducted three studies to examine how the mind—both beliefs about animal minds and the mental work necessary to create a shift between food animals and other animals—allows for people to simultaneously love animals and eat meat.

The Effect of Categorization as Food on the Perceived Moral Standing of Animals

Carol L. Glasser — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 07:45:00 -0800

To better understand how it is that most people can simultaneously love animals and eat meat, this study examines how classifying an animal as "food" influences attitudes about that animal. The researchers found that categorization of an animal as "food" changes beliefs about an animal's capacity to suffer, thereby reducing moral concern for the animal and allowing people to love some animals while continuing to engage in meat eating.