Empra-Poster

Male(volent) justifications for eating animals: Gender differences and the role of the Dark Triad

Titel

Male(volent) justifications for eating animals: Gender differences and the role of the Dark Triad

AutorInnen

Aziz, C., Baumann, F., Denk, A., Heitz, T., Maute, J., Meyerhöfer, S.

Abstract

Most people eat meat even though they do not want animals to be caused any harm. Previous research found that cognitive adjustments to this “meat-paradox” were affected by gender in that men more than women relied on beliefs functioning as justifications for this behavior. This study extends this finding by testing the Hypothesis that the Dark Triad personality traits mediate the link between gender and endorsement of defensive beliefs about eating meat. A total of 231 participants completed an online survey measuring the Dark Triad, meat-eating justification (MEJ) strategies and meat-eating behavior. Structural equation modelling revealed that gender accounted for a significant portion of variance in direct MEJ strategies not accounted for by meat consumption and that this link was fully mediated by Machiavellianism. Indirect effects through narcissism and psychopathy were nonsignificant. We address theoretical implications of these results as well as limitations of this study.

Schlagworte

Dark Triad, Gender Differences, Meat Eating