Ben De Groeve
@bendegroeve.bsky.social
Communication scientist 💬🕵🏻| Naturalistic philosophy 🌍🔬| Sentientist ethics ⚖️❤️| Research: trust, climate-health policy, sustainable diets & living 🕊️🌿
🌍 World Animal Day 🐄🐖🐣🐢🐰🐎
In early July, I attended the Animal Advocacy Conference of PHAIR in Edinburgh, Scotland. In celebration of World Animal Day, I want to share some insights from this year’s gathering:
bendegroeve.wordpress.com/sentience-sp...
In early July, I attended the Animal Advocacy Conference of PHAIR in Edinburgh, Scotland. In celebration of World Animal Day, I want to share some insights from this year’s gathering:
bendegroeve.wordpress.com/sentience-sp...
October 4, 2025 at 8:44 PM
🌍 World Animal Day 🐄🐖🐣🐢🐰🐎
In early July, I attended the Animal Advocacy Conference of PHAIR in Edinburgh, Scotland. In celebration of World Animal Day, I want to share some insights from this year’s gathering:
bendegroeve.wordpress.com/sentience-sp...
In early July, I attended the Animal Advocacy Conference of PHAIR in Edinburgh, Scotland. In celebration of World Animal Day, I want to share some insights from this year’s gathering:
bendegroeve.wordpress.com/sentience-sp...
To reduce heat stress from traffic, the organization recommends:
▶️ Use transport as a lever for cooler cities and promote green spaces 🚌🌳
▶️ Promote energy-efficient mobility
▶️ Use transport as a lever for cooler cities and promote green spaces 🚌🌳
▶️ Promote energy-efficient mobility
June 23, 2025 at 1:42 PM
To reduce heat stress from traffic, the organization recommends:
▶️ Use transport as a lever for cooler cities and promote green spaces 🚌🌳
▶️ Promote energy-efficient mobility
▶️ Use transport as a lever for cooler cities and promote green spaces 🚌🌳
▶️ Promote energy-efficient mobility
Did you know that traffic accounts for up to 30% of human-caused heat in cities? 🚗🌇🥵
I just received a fact sheet on traffic-induced urban heat stress by an Austrian organization specialized in mobility (VCÖ): vcoe.at/files/vcoe/u...
I just received a fact sheet on traffic-induced urban heat stress by an Austrian organization specialized in mobility (VCÖ): vcoe.at/files/vcoe/u...
June 23, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Did you know that traffic accounts for up to 30% of human-caused heat in cities? 🚗🌇🥵
I just received a fact sheet on traffic-induced urban heat stress by an Austrian organization specialized in mobility (VCÖ): vcoe.at/files/vcoe/u...
I just received a fact sheet on traffic-induced urban heat stress by an Austrian organization specialized in mobility (VCÖ): vcoe.at/files/vcoe/u...
Our findings also align with the push-pull model of moralization (see Figure 👇):
🔗 www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Animal cruelty can “push” people to avoid meat by triggering emotions like empathy and anger, while the “pull” of meat’s taste can spark reactance and counter-justification.
🔗 www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Animal cruelty can “push” people to avoid meat by triggering emotions like empathy and anger, while the “pull” of meat’s taste can spark reactance and counter-justification.
April 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Our findings also align with the push-pull model of moralization (see Figure 👇):
🔗 www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Animal cruelty can “push” people to avoid meat by triggering emotions like empathy and anger, while the “pull” of meat’s taste can spark reactance and counter-justification.
🔗 www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Animal cruelty can “push” people to avoid meat by triggering emotions like empathy and anger, while the “pull” of meat’s taste can spark reactance and counter-justification.
Two variables we measured offer additional insight:
🐷🦝💗 Caring about animals ("animal solidarity") predicts moral emotions and (to a lesser extent) willingness to change.
🥩🥓❤️ Loving meat ("hedonic motivation") negatively predicts willingness to change and (to a lesser extent) moral emotions.
🐷🦝💗 Caring about animals ("animal solidarity") predicts moral emotions and (to a lesser extent) willingness to change.
🥩🥓❤️ Loving meat ("hedonic motivation") negatively predicts willingness to change and (to a lesser extent) moral emotions.
April 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Two variables we measured offer additional insight:
🐷🦝💗 Caring about animals ("animal solidarity") predicts moral emotions and (to a lesser extent) willingness to change.
🥩🥓❤️ Loving meat ("hedonic motivation") negatively predicts willingness to change and (to a lesser extent) moral emotions.
🐷🦝💗 Caring about animals ("animal solidarity") predicts moral emotions and (to a lesser extent) willingness to change.
🥩🥓❤️ Loving meat ("hedonic motivation") negatively predicts willingness to change and (to a lesser extent) moral emotions.
When we controlled for moral emotions, the animal appeals (vs. control) seemed to *increase* pork-eating justification and *decrease* willingness to change pork consumption, resulting in overall minor changes in these outcome variables.
It's as if moral emotions are, to some extent, ignored.
It's as if moral emotions are, to some extent, ignored.
April 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
When we controlled for moral emotions, the animal appeals (vs. control) seemed to *increase* pork-eating justification and *decrease* willingness to change pork consumption, resulting in overall minor changes in these outcome variables.
It's as if moral emotions are, to some extent, ignored.
It's as if moral emotions are, to some extent, ignored.
🤐 These emotions discouraged pork consumption, probably because these emotions, and in particular feelings like empathy/pity and anger/disgust, reduce the need to justify eating pork.
But there’s a twist...
But there’s a twist...
April 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
🤐 These emotions discouraged pork consumption, probably because these emotions, and in particular feelings like empathy/pity and anger/disgust, reduce the need to justify eating pork.
But there’s a twist...
But there’s a twist...
😠 The image showing animal cruelty (the pig being stunned) stirred the strongest emotional reactions, with more empathy and guilt, but also more anger and disgust being expressed when thinking about people involved in making pork chops (perpetrator-oriented emotions).
April 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
😠 The image showing animal cruelty (the pig being stunned) stirred the strongest emotional reactions, with more empathy and guilt, but also more anger and disgust being expressed when thinking about people involved in making pork chops (perpetrator-oriented emotions).
Seeing either animal image made people feel:
💔 More emotions like empathy and pity for pigs (victim-oriented emotions)
😳 More self-oriented emotions like guilt and shame
👏 Less praising emotions for people involved in making pork chops
💔 More emotions like empathy and pity for pigs (victim-oriented emotions)
😳 More self-oriented emotions like guilt and shame
👏 Less praising emotions for people involved in making pork chops
April 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Seeing either animal image made people feel:
💔 More emotions like empathy and pity for pigs (victim-oriented emotions)
😳 More self-oriented emotions like guilt and shame
👏 Less praising emotions for people involved in making pork chops
💔 More emotions like empathy and pity for pigs (victim-oriented emotions)
😳 More self-oriented emotions like guilt and shame
👏 Less praising emotions for people involved in making pork chops
We showed 421 meat consumers from the UK one of three images:
🥩 A pork chop (control condition)
🥩🐷🥰 A pork chop + someone petting a pig (caring appeal)
🥩🐷🔪 A pork chop + someone stunning a pig before slaughter (cruelty appeal)
What happened? (2/n)
🥩 A pork chop (control condition)
🥩🐷🥰 A pork chop + someone petting a pig (caring appeal)
🥩🐷🔪 A pork chop + someone stunning a pig before slaughter (cruelty appeal)
What happened? (2/n)
April 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
We showed 421 meat consumers from the UK one of three images:
🥩 A pork chop (control condition)
🥩🐷🥰 A pork chop + someone petting a pig (caring appeal)
🥩🐷🔪 A pork chop + someone stunning a pig before slaughter (cruelty appeal)
What happened? (2/n)
🥩 A pork chop (control condition)
🥩🐷🥰 A pork chop + someone petting a pig (caring appeal)
🥩🐷🔪 A pork chop + someone stunning a pig before slaughter (cruelty appeal)
What happened? (2/n)
Most people enjoy meat—but rarely think about the animals behind it.
So what happens when they do make that connection?
🐖 If you're curious, check out our new study:
"‘Meating’ the animal and moral emotions"
🔎 doi.org/10.1016/j.ap...
🧵👇 (1/10)
#MoralPsychology #MeatParadox #AnimalCruelty
So what happens when they do make that connection?
🐖 If you're curious, check out our new study:
"‘Meating’ the animal and moral emotions"
🔎 doi.org/10.1016/j.ap...
🧵👇 (1/10)
#MoralPsychology #MeatParadox #AnimalCruelty
April 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Most people enjoy meat—but rarely think about the animals behind it.
So what happens when they do make that connection?
🐖 If you're curious, check out our new study:
"‘Meating’ the animal and moral emotions"
🔎 doi.org/10.1016/j.ap...
🧵👇 (1/10)
#MoralPsychology #MeatParadox #AnimalCruelty
So what happens when they do make that connection?
🐖 If you're curious, check out our new study:
"‘Meating’ the animal and moral emotions"
🔎 doi.org/10.1016/j.ap...
🧵👇 (1/10)
#MoralPsychology #MeatParadox #AnimalCruelty
🍏🍊🍇🍌🥦🌶️🥬🧅🧄🥕🍆🥜🥗🥘
A healthy plant-based diet:
❤️ Lowers risk of diabetes, heart disease & metabolic issues
🌿 Counters inflammation
💪 Rich in antioxidants, micronutrients & fiber
🦠 Improves gut microbiome diversity
🧠 Supports cognitive function & well-being
🔎
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
A healthy plant-based diet:
❤️ Lowers risk of diabetes, heart disease & metabolic issues
🌿 Counters inflammation
💪 Rich in antioxidants, micronutrients & fiber
🦠 Improves gut microbiome diversity
🧠 Supports cognitive function & well-being
🔎
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
April 9, 2025 at 3:56 PM
🍏🍊🍇🍌🥦🌶️🥬🧅🧄🥕🍆🥜🥗🥘
A healthy plant-based diet:
❤️ Lowers risk of diabetes, heart disease & metabolic issues
🌿 Counters inflammation
💪 Rich in antioxidants, micronutrients & fiber
🦠 Improves gut microbiome diversity
🧠 Supports cognitive function & well-being
🔎
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
A healthy plant-based diet:
❤️ Lowers risk of diabetes, heart disease & metabolic issues
🌿 Counters inflammation
💪 Rich in antioxidants, micronutrients & fiber
🦠 Improves gut microbiome diversity
🧠 Supports cognitive function & well-being
🔎
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
"While the event horizon of a black hole shields the observer outside the hole from the violence of the singularity, the big bang singularity lies within our cosmological horizon. An expanding universe is like a black hole turned inside out and upside down."
- Thomas Hertog
youtu.be/6akmv1bsz1M?...
- Thomas Hertog
youtu.be/6akmv1bsz1M?...
April 8, 2025 at 6:09 PM
"While the event horizon of a black hole shields the observer outside the hole from the violence of the singularity, the big bang singularity lies within our cosmological horizon. An expanding universe is like a black hole turned inside out and upside down."
- Thomas Hertog
youtu.be/6akmv1bsz1M?...
- Thomas Hertog
youtu.be/6akmv1bsz1M?...
This is it for now. 😊
If you want to know more, there are also several books on the psychology of eating meat that may be more digestible. Even Wikipedia talks about the meat paradox: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychol...
Feel free to share this🧵 if you want. 😉
16/16
If you want to know more, there are also several books on the psychology of eating meat that may be more digestible. Even Wikipedia talks about the meat paradox: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychol...
Feel free to share this🧵 if you want. 😉
16/16
January 25, 2025 at 12:15 PM
This is it for now. 😊
If you want to know more, there are also several books on the psychology of eating meat that may be more digestible. Even Wikipedia talks about the meat paradox: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychol...
Feel free to share this🧵 if you want. 😉
16/16
If you want to know more, there are also several books on the psychology of eating meat that may be more digestible. Even Wikipedia talks about the meat paradox: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychol...
Feel free to share this🧵 if you want. 😉
16/16
People are not born eating meat and caring about animals. What is the developmental trajectory of the meat paradox?
In 2023, a theoretical framework has been proposed to better understand it. 15/16
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
In 2023, a theoretical framework has been proposed to better understand it. 15/16
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
January 25, 2025 at 11:58 AM
People are not born eating meat and caring about animals. What is the developmental trajectory of the meat paradox?
In 2023, a theoretical framework has been proposed to better understand it. 15/16
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
In 2023, a theoretical framework has been proposed to better understand it. 15/16
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Their book inspired us to explore how the meat paradox (i.e., conflict between caring about animals (+🌍,💙) and eating meat) influences perceptions of vegan advocates (conflict between moral commitment and moralistic perceptions). 12/16
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34509545/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34509545/
January 25, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Their book inspired us to explore how the meat paradox (i.e., conflict between caring about animals (+🌍,💙) and eating meat) influences perceptions of vegan advocates (conflict between moral commitment and moralistic perceptions). 12/16
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34509545/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34509545/
The #meatparadox is central to an amazing book edited by Dhont and Hodson, combining insights from the world’s leading academics with those of animal advocates to explain "why we love and exploit animals", aiming to improve human-animal intergroup relations. 11/16
January 25, 2025 at 11:37 AM
The #meatparadox is central to an amazing book edited by Dhont and Hodson, combining insights from the world’s leading academics with those of animal advocates to explain "why we love and exploit animals", aiming to improve human-animal intergroup relations. 11/16
Highlighting the role of ambivalent feelings related to meat-eating & veg*nism, Buttlar et al. introduced their AC/DC model🤘 this year, arguing how ambivalence and cognitive dissonance reflect pre- and post-decisional conflict, respectively. 10/16 t.co/Ef8XMWJz2W
January 25, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Highlighting the role of ambivalent feelings related to meat-eating & veg*nism, Buttlar et al. introduced their AC/DC model🤘 this year, arguing how ambivalence and cognitive dissonance reflect pre- and post-decisional conflict, respectively. 10/16 t.co/Ef8XMWJz2W
A second systematic review (n = 73 studies) by Gradidge et al. (2021) supports and extends the conceptual framework of
Rothgerber (extensions shown in bold circles below), showing how various factors affect moral (dis)engagement from animals. 9/16 doi.org/10.32872/spb...
Rothgerber (extensions shown in bold circles below), showing how various factors affect moral (dis)engagement from animals. 9/16 doi.org/10.32872/spb...
January 25, 2025 at 11:35 AM
A second systematic review (n = 73 studies) by Gradidge et al. (2021) supports and extends the conceptual framework of
Rothgerber (extensions shown in bold circles below), showing how various factors affect moral (dis)engagement from animals. 9/16 doi.org/10.32872/spb...
Rothgerber (extensions shown in bold circles below), showing how various factors affect moral (dis)engagement from animals. 9/16 doi.org/10.32872/spb...
A first systematic review (n = 86 studies) on the meat paradox also appeared in 2020, explaining how personal and situational factors arouse moral dilemma about meat-eating and how this moral dilemma is resolved. 8/16 research.wur.nl/en/publicati...
January 25, 2025 at 11:33 AM
A first systematic review (n = 86 studies) on the meat paradox also appeared in 2020, explaining how personal and situational factors arouse moral dilemma about meat-eating and how this moral dilemma is resolved. 8/16 research.wur.nl/en/publicati...
One outlet is to prevent dissonance by dissociating meat from its animal origins (see some examples below). A systematic review (n = 21 studies) in 2020 by Benningstad and Kunst explicitly examined the role of dissociation for meat consumption. 6/16
csblab.com/wp-content/u...
csblab.com/wp-content/u...
January 25, 2025 at 11:27 AM
One outlet is to prevent dissonance by dissociating meat from its animal origins (see some examples below). A systematic review (n = 21 studies) in 2020 by Benningstad and Kunst explicitly examined the role of dissociation for meat consumption. 6/16
csblab.com/wp-content/u...
csblab.com/wp-content/u...
Fast forward to 2020, Rothgerber introduced a conceptual framework to understand how people prevent and reduce cognitive dissonance related to the meat paradox, involving various psychological outlets. 5/16
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
January 25, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Fast forward to 2020, Rothgerber introduced a conceptual framework to understand how people prevent and reduce cognitive dissonance related to the meat paradox, involving various psychological outlets. 5/16
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
A first comprehensive review on the meat paradox appeared in 2016 by Bastian and Loughnan.
It's a very insightful review on how morally troublesome behaviors in general can become widespread and remain commonplace. 4/16
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
It's a very insightful review on how morally troublesome behaviors in general can become widespread and remain commonplace. 4/16
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
January 25, 2025 at 11:23 AM
A first comprehensive review on the meat paradox appeared in 2016 by Bastian and Loughnan.
It's a very insightful review on how morally troublesome behaviors in general can become widespread and remain commonplace. 4/16
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
It's a very insightful review on how morally troublesome behaviors in general can become widespread and remain commonplace. 4/16
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Animals that are viewed as more edible are perceived as having less mind, reducing moral concern. There is evidence that this mind denial is motivated: When people expect eating meat, they are more likely to perceive animals they eat as lacking a mind. 2/16 doi.org/10.1177/0146...
January 25, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Animals that are viewed as more edible are perceived as having less mind, reducing moral concern. There is evidence that this mind denial is motivated: When people expect eating meat, they are more likely to perceive animals they eat as lacking a mind. 2/16 doi.org/10.1177/0146...