Children vary considerably from grownups in their moral views on animals, new research study programs.
University of Exeter researchers asked kids aged 9-11 about the moral status and treatment of stock (pigs), animals (pet dogs), and individuals.
Unlike grownups, children state farm animals should be dealt with the like individuals and animals, and think eating animals is less morally appropriate than adults do.
The findings suggest that “speciesism”– an ethical hierarchy that offers different value to different animals– is learned throughout teenage years.
” Humans relationship with animals has lots of ethical double requirements,” stated Dr. Luke McGuire, from the University of Exeter.
” Some animals are cherished household companions, while others are kept in agriculture for financial benefit.
” Judgments appear to mainly depend on the species of the animal in question: pets are our good friends, pigs are food.”
The research study team– consisting of the University of Oxford– surveyed 479 people, all residing in England, from three age: 9-11, 18-21, and 29-59.
The two adult groups had fairly similar views– suggesting attitudes to animals generally alter in between the ages of 11 and 18.
” Something seems to occur in teenage years, where that early love for animals ends up being more complicated and we establish more speciesism,” stated Dr. McGuire
” Its important to note that even adults in our study thought eating meat was less ethically acceptable than consuming animal items like milk.
” So aversion to animals– consisting of stock– being damaged does not disappear entirely.”
The research study likewise discovered that, as people age, they are most likely to classify stock as “food” instead of “pets”– while children were similarly likely to think about pigs to fall into either of these categories.
While adjusting mindsets is a natural part of maturing, Dr. McGuire said the “ethical intelligence of children” is likewise valuable.
” If we desire individuals to move towards more plant-based diet plans for ecological reasons, we need to interfere with the current system somewhere,” he stated.
” For example, if children consumed more plant-based food in schools, that might be more in line with their ethical values, and may decrease the normalization towards adult values that we identify in this research study.”
The paper, published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, is entitled: “The advancement of speciesism: Age-related distinctions in the ethical view of animals.”
Reference: “The development of speciesism: Age-related distinctions in the ethical view of animals” 11 April 2022, Social Psychological and Personality Science.DOI: 10.1177/ 19485506221086182.
