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Peng DC, Cowie S, Moreau D, Addis DR. Can the prosocial benefits of episodic simulation transfer to different people and situational contexts? Cognition 2024; 244:105718. [PMID: 38219452 DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2024.105718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Previous research has found that episodic simulation of events of helping others can effectively enhance intentions to help the same person involved and the identical situational context as the imagined scenarios. This 'prosocial simulation effect' is argued to reflect, at least in part, associative memory mechanisms whereby the simulation is reactivated when in the same situation as that imagined. However, to date, no study has examined systematically whether this 'prosocial simulation effect' can be transferred to response scenarios involving different people and/or situational contexts to the imagined scenarios, and if so, whether the degree of overlap with the imagined helping episode modulated the transfer effect. Across two experiments, we systematically varied the overlap of the simulated and response scenarios, both in terms of the persons in need and/or the situational contexts, and whether would influence the magnitude of prosocial simulation effect. Results from both experiments showed that the prosocial simulation effect can be transferred to response scenarios involving different people and situational contexts to the simulated scenarios. However, this finding was primarily driven by response scenarios that had a high degree of overlap to the simulated scenarios. The application of our findings to the practical implementation of simulation to promote prosociality in the real world is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ding-Cheng Peng
- School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sarah Cowie
- School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - David Moreau
- School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research, School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Donna Rose Addis
- School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
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Amiot CE, Gagné C, Bastian B. Exploring the role of our contacts with pets in broadening concerns for animals, nature, and fellow humans: a representative study. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17079. [PMID: 37816763 PMCID: PMC10564771 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43680-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
While pet ownership is normative in many occidental countries, whether humans' proximal contacts with pets have implications for attitudes and behaviors toward other (non pet) animals, nature, and fellow humans, has received limited empirical attention. In a large representative sample, we investigate whether pet ownership and positive contact with pets are associated with more positive attitudes and heightened concerns for non-pet animals, nature, and human outgroups. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among Canadian adults (619 pet owners, 450 non-pet owners). Pet owners reported more positive attitudes toward non-pet animals (e.g., wild, farm animals), higher identification with animals, more positive attitudes toward human outgroups, higher biospheric environmental concerns, higher human-environment interdependence beliefs, and lower usual meat consumption. Positive contact with pets was also associated with most of these outcomes. Solidarity with animals, a dimension of identification with animals, emerged as a particularly clear predictor of these outcomes and mediated the associations between positive contact with pets and positive attitudes toward non-pet animals, biospheric, egoistic, and altruistic environmental concerns, human-environment interdependence beliefs, and diet. Our results provide support for the capacity of pets to shape human consideration for a broad range of social issues, beyond the specific context of human-pet relations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine E Amiot
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Succ. Centre-Ville, C.P. 8888, Montreal, PQ, H3C 3P8, Canada.
| | - Christophe Gagné
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Succ. Centre-Ville, C.P. 8888, Montreal, PQ, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Brock Bastian
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 06, 05, Redmond Barry Building, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
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Branković M, Budžak A, Tulić N, Janković J. Effects of experimentally induced self-affirmation on the openness to meat reduction and alternative protein sources. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1021891. [PMID: 37151312 PMCID: PMC10160641 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1021891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Consumption of animals entails disregarding the pain of sentient beings, and acknowledging this can threaten an individual's image of oneself as a moral person. Also, abstaining from meat in a meat-eating culture can threaten an individual's valued group identity. Previous research on inter-group relations suggests that self-affirmation, affirmation of personally or collectively important values, can help individuals alleviate self-threats since it enhances one's global self-image and decreases threat perceptions. Methods We tested for potential effects of self-affirmation on openness toward reducing meat consumption in an experimental study. Participants (N = 277) were randomized into an individual affirmation, group affirmation, or a control condition. Individual affirmation participants ranked a list of values and then wrote a short paragraph about their first-ranked value. Group affirmation participants did a similar task, focusing on the values of their ethnic group, while participants in the control condition had an unrelated task of ranking their color preferences. Participants then read a persuasive message presenting health risks related to meat consumption and the health benefits of reducing meat. Finally, they indicated their openness toward reducing meat consumption and acceptability of plant-based alternatives and lab-grown meat. Results and Discussion Results show that affirmed participants expressed more readiness to reconsider their meat consumption habits, reduced perceptions of vegetarianism as a threat to the local culture, and more positive perceptions of the idea of lab-grown meat. However, self-esteem and frequency of meat consumption pose important limitations to the experimental effects. We discuss the findings from the perspective of self-and collective identity threats and the potential of self-affirmations to create a more open debate about animal product consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Branković
- Insitute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Media and Communications, Singidunum University, Belgrade, Serbia
- *Correspondence: Marija Branković,
| | - Anastasija Budžak
- Faculty of Media and Communications, Singidunum University, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nađa Tulić
- Faculty of Media and Communications, Singidunum University, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jovana Janković
- Faculty of Media and Communications, Singidunum University, Belgrade, Serbia
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Simonsson O, Goldberg SB, Osika W. Man's best friend(s): Effects of a brief befriending meditation on human-animal relations. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278704. [PMID: 36525412 PMCID: PMC9757557 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In two studies using samples representative of the US adult population with regard to age, sex and ethnicity, we investigated relationships between loving-kindness and compassion-based practices with speciesism, animal solidarity and desire to help animals. In a cross-sectional study (Study 1, N = 2,822), results showed that past 30 days practice and estimated lifetime number of hours of lovingkindness or compassion meditation were associated with more animal solidarity and greater desire to help animals. Past 30 days practice was also associated with less speciesism, but only when adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. In an experimental study (Study 2, N = 1,102), results showed that participants randomized to a befriending meditation (a practice similar to loving-kindness and compassion meditation) condition scored higher on animal solidarity and desire to help animals than participants randomized to a control condition. No significant difference was observed on speciesism, but mediation analyses suggested that effects on all three outcomes were mediated through perceived commonality with animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto Simonsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Simon B. Goldberg
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
- Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Walter Osika
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurobiology, Center for Social Sustainability, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Amiot CE, Santerre-Bélec L. Toward more equal and mutual human-pet relations: Insights and possible solutions based on social psychological theories. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:1009267. [DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1009267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-pet relations are imbued with power imbalances, with many pets depending on humans for food and water, shelter, health care, and sheer survival. A majority of people report loving their pets and consider them to be integral family members; however, the care provided to pets varies widely and can be, in some cases, suboptimal. Yet, building more equal relations between humans and their pets could provide benefits to both parties. To achieve this increased equality and mutuality, the current paper proposes theory-based solutions. Specifically, and building on established social psychological theories, namely theories of intergroup relations and of human motivation, the current paper identifies both social and relational factors which, if socially and individually promoted, could trigger more equal and possibly mutually beneficial relationships with pets. We provide concrete examples illustrating how these factors can be maximized and promoted.
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Budžak A, Branković M. The traditional vegetarians – improving attitudes toward vegetarians through emphasizing similarities between vegetarianism and traditional fasting. THE JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 163:354-366. [PMID: 36326113 DOI: 10.1080/00224545.2022.2139216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The modern choices of diet are often perceived at odds with the traditional worldviews. This study aimed to test the possibility of improving attitudes toward vegetarians by emphasizing the similarity between vegetarianism and religious fasting. We expected the effects of induction to be moderated by endorsement of right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation (SDO-D and SDO-E). Participants (N = 246) were randomly divided into three groups that all read a text about a traditional birthday celebration. The control group read a text about the celebration with meat-based meals, one experimental group read about a celebration with meatless dishes. In the second experimental group it was emphasized that the host became a vegetarian after years of religious fasting. Both inductions improved attitudes toward vegetarians. Only SDO-D proved to be a significant moderator, with induction exhibiting a significant effect at higher levels of SDO-D. The findings inform public communications about reducing meat consumption.
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Cerrato S, Forestell CA. Meet your meat: The effect of imagined intergroup contact on wanting and liking of meat. Appetite 2022; 168:105656. [PMID: 34419514 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Increased global meat consumption has negative impacts on animal welfare, the environment, as well as health. The current study is the first to investigate whether imagined intergroup contact with a farmed animal changes wanting and liking of beef and reduces willingness to consume meat. Collegians [N = 100, 67% female] imagined having a positive experience with either a calf (n = 36), kitten (n = 33), or child (n = 31). Following the imagined interaction, they completed the Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire to measure implicit and explicit wanting and explicit liking of beef and other types of meat relative to other food categories. Participants also indicated their willingness to reduce meat consumption. Results revealed that there were no significant differences between groups in explicit wanting or liking of beef or meat, nor in willingness to reduce future meat consumption. Nevertheless, compared to the kitten and child conditions, participants who imagined interacting with a calf experienced lower levels of implicit wanting and relative preference for beef and other meat products. Our findings suggest that imagined intergroup contact may be an effective manipulation to reduce meat consumption as a part of a broader intervention program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Cerrato
- Department of Psychological Sciences, William & Mary, Virginia, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA, 23187-8795, USA
| | - Catherine A Forestell
- Department of Psychological Sciences, William & Mary, Virginia, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA, 23187-8795, USA.
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