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

@article{Bastian2012DontMM,
  title={Don’t Mind Meat? The Denial of Mind to Animals Used for Human Consumption},
  author={Brock Bastian and Steve Loughnan and Nick Haslam and Helena R. M. Radke},
  journal={Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin},
  year={2012},
  volume={38},
  pages={247 - 256}
}
Many people like eating meat, but most are reluctant to harm things that have minds. The current three studies show that this dissonance motivates people to deny minds to animals. Study 1 demonstrates that animals considered appropriate for human consumption are ascribed diminished mental capacities. Study 2 shows that meat eaters are motivated to deny minds to food animals when they are reminded of the link between meat and animal suffering. Finally, Study 3 provides direct support for our… 
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