The Impact of Emotional and Rational Thinking on Two Types of Speciesism
Alicja Broncel
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, The Doctoral School of Social Sciences Academia Rerum Socialiumhttps://orcid.org/0009-0009-4513-5535
Maciej Trojan
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Institute of Psychologyhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8589-4175
Szymon Bojarski
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, The Doctoral School of Social Sciences Academia Rerum Socialiumhttps://orcid.org/0009-0001-6578-8041
Julia Sikorska
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Institute of Psychologyhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3262-0696
Abstract
Aim: In this study, we examined whether the mode of information processing and emotions influence the level of anthropocentric speciesism (the tendency to prioritize humans over other species) and pet speciesism (the tendency to prioritize companion animals over other species).
Method: Participants (N = 499), randomly assigned to one of three conditions, resolved seven moral dilemmas and assessed the moral status, likability, intelligence and capacity to feel pain, of the included species (dog, bear, fish, and rat).
Results: Individuals guided by emotions (vs. logic) demonstrated higher levels of pet speciesism. We did not observe the reverse relationship for anthropocentric speciesism. Emotions experienced towards species were relevant only for pet speciesism under emotional thinking conditions.
Conclusion: The study only partially confirmed the results described in the literature. We suggest employing more objective manipulation methods in further research on speciesism.
Keywords:
human–animal relations, speciesism, animal stereotypes, emotionsReferences
Bratanova, B., Loughnan, S., & Bastian, B. (2011). The effect of categorization as food on the perceived moral standing of animals. Appetite, 57(1), 193–196. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.appet.2011.04.020
Crossref
Google Scholar
Caviola, L., & Capraro, V. (2020). Liking but devaluing animals: Emotional and deliberative paths to speciesism. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 11(8), 1080–1088. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1948550619893959
Crossref
Google Scholar
Caviola, L., Everett, J. A. C., & Faber, N. S. (2019). The moral standing of animals: Towards a psychology of speciesism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 116(6), 1011–1029. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000182
Crossref
Google Scholar
Kellert, S., & Wilson, E. (1993). The biophilia hypothesis. Island Press. Google Scholar
Osman, M. (2004). An evaluation of dual-process theories of reasoning. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 11, 988–1010. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03196730
Crossref
Google Scholar
Piazza, J., Landy, J. F., & Goodwin, G. P. (2014). Cruel nature: Harmfulness as an important, overlooked dimension in judgments of moral standing. Cognition, 131(1), 108–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2013.12.013
Crossref
Google Scholar
Ryder, R. (1980). Szowinizm gatunkowy, czyli etyka wiwisekcji [Speciesism: The ethics of vivisection]. Etyka, 18, 39–47.
Crossref
Google Scholar
Sevillano, V., & Fiske, S. T. (2016). Warmth and competence in animals. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 46(5), 276–293. https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12361
Crossref
Google Scholar
Singer, P. (2018). Wyzwolenie zwierząt [Animal liberation]. Marginesy. Google Scholar
Suter, R. S., & Hertwig, R. (2011). Time and moral judgment. Cognition, 119(3), 454–458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2011.01.018
Crossref
Google Scholar
Topolski, R., Weaver, J. N., Martin, Z., & McCoy, J. (2013). Choosing between the emotional dog and the rational pal: A moral dilemma with a tail. Antrozoos, 26(2), 253–263. https://doi.org/10.2752/175303713X13636846944321
Crossref
Google Scholar
Toussaint, L., & Webb, J. R. (2005). Gender differences in the relationship between empathy and forgiveness. The Journal of Social Psychology, 145(6), 673–685. https://doi. org/10.3200/SOCP.145.6.673-686
Crossref
Google Scholar
Wilks, M., Caviola, L., Kahane, G., & Bloom, P. (2021). Children prioritize humans over animals less than adults do. Psychological Science, 32(1), 27–38. https://doi.org/10.1177/ 0956797620960398
Crossref
Google Scholar
Wilson, E. O. (1984). Biophilia: The human bond with other species. Harvard University Press.
Crossref
Google Scholar
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, The Doctoral School of Social Sciences Academia Rerum Socialium
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4513-5535
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8589-4175
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, The Doctoral School of Social Sciences Academia Rerum Socialium
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6578-8041
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3262-0696
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
