Title: Social perceptions of Vegetarians based on dietary motivations
Department: Neuroscience
Description: This project will investigate omnivores' attitudes and perceptions toward vegetarians. While vegetarianism is typically defined in terms of one's dietary habits (i.e., reduction or elimination of animal-based products from one's diet), vegetarianism is considered to be a social identity that encompasses a variety of values and beliefs. Vegetarians comprise less than 10% of most Western industrialized populations, and as a result, they are considered to be a social minority. Previous literature has demonstrated that vegetarians are perceived more negatively than omnivores by their peers. Moreover, vegetarians are aware of these negative views, as they report that they are often derogated or treated with disrespect as a result of their dietary habits. It is important to understand the mechanisms contributing to these negative social evaluations in order to advocate for reduced meat consumption productively.
Hometown: Mechanicsville, Virginia
Advisor: Catherine Forestell
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