Dear BERGers and SHAIRers,

 

Our first meeting of Autumn semester is this Wednesday 11 October 4-5pm in the Psychology Common Room (Cottrell,  C3A94) and hybrid (link to join the online meeting here). 

 

Everyone is welcome and postgraduate students are encouraged to attend. Please let me (clare.andrews@stir.ac.uk) know (by Wednesday morning) if you would like to join us for dinner with the speakers afterwards – all are welcome! We will first go along to the Science Festival’s ‘Café Philosophique’ talk on Human and Animal Minds (see below for free ticket booking link), and then head onwards for dinner in Stirling.

 

Devon Docherty & Carol Jasper, University of Stirling

The cheese paradox: the psychology of egg and dairy consumption in vegetarians

 

Abstract:  

Within the ethical discourse surrounding dietary choices, non-meat animal products (NMAPs) such as eggs and dairy have remained a relatively underexplored area of inquiry. Therefore, very little is currently known about the psychology of egg and dairy consumption. This study looks at vegetarians to address this gap, because they are more likely to show empathetic concern for animals than omnivores, yet actively choose to include NMAPs in their diet. Interview data from 12 participants were analysed via thematic analysis, finding that vegetarians perceive robust ethical issues with NMAPs. However, their choices are shaped by personal incentives and societal norms, often resulting in cognitive dissonance. This study expands research on food psychology and animal ethics and may also be used to inform NMAP reduction strategies, an important pursuit in the quest for a more sustainable and compassionate world. 

 

The upcoming BERG programme is here.

 

You may also be interested in two Stirling Science Festival events this week:

Café Philosophique: Human and Animal Minds, Wednesday 5.30pm at Tollbooth*

Rational Animals Lecture, Friday 6-8pm

*We will have some spaces to give a few folks lifts – please let me know if coming along with us from campus.

 

Look forward to seeing you this Wednesday!

 

Best wishes,

 

Clare