Drawing the Line: The Reconciliation of Conflicting Behaviors Toward Other Animals
Date of Award
3-2019
Document Type
Doctoral Research Paper
Degree Name
Psy.D.
Organizational Unit
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
First Advisor
Laura Meyer
Second Advisor
Judy Fox
Third Advisor
Sarah Bexell
Keywords
Moral disengagement, Animals, Cognitive dissonance, Animal-related behaviors
Abstract
The present study aimed to explore the cognitive and emotional experiences of individuals seeking to reconcile conflicting behaviors toward animals (e.g., a vegetarian who continues to buy leather products). Research questions were : 1) Do individuals with conflicting behaviors toward animals experience internal conflicts? 2) How do they resolve those conflicts? and 3) What factors might motivate them to change their behaviors? While previous work has focused on internal processes used in behavioral decision-making toward animals, research has failed to address how individuals resolve apparent inconsistency within their own set of behaviors (i.e., behaviors that are contradictory). The present qualitative study used a semi-structured interview format in which participants explored their current behaviors and how they resolved inconsistencies between them. Interviews were analyzed using Content Analysis by first deductively identifying themes related to Factors for Change, Moral Engagement, and Emotional Experience. Results from the present study suggests that Moral Disengagement strategies are used to distance individuals from behaviors they consider immoral and that there are several factors for change that can be considered to inform the human use of other animals.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.
Extent
47 pgs.
Recommended Citation
Shum, Elizabeth, "Drawing the Line: The Reconciliation of Conflicting Behaviors Toward Other Animals" (2019). Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects. 332.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/capstone_masters/332