Study: People Don't Think About The Meat They Eat As Animals
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- So you order the cheesesteak with double steak and extra cheese, but how much do you think about the animal that the meat or the cheese originated from?
Well, a series of studies conducted by the University of Oslo proved that we actually don't think about it very much at all.
The study revealed that humans tend to be "meat-eaters by disassociation" meaning that meat is easier to consume if you don't think about or associate it with its animal origins. Researchers showed study participants two whole roast pigs, one with a head, and one without. The study revealed that participants felt less empathy for the headless pork.
Packaging and advertising also play a crucial role in the disassociation ideal. When a picture of the animal was presented on the packaging, participants avoided it. They were also less inclined to eat meat that was labeled cow or pig in lieu or beef or pork.
"The presentation of meat by the industry influences our willingness to eat it," said Jonas R. Kunst, one of the study's authors, in a press release. "Highly processed meat makes it easier to distance oneself from the idea that it comes from an animal."
The authors of the study hope that the results will help the government limit meat consumption.
Do you find that you distance yourself from the animal origins of the meat you eat?
