Listen to the full episode of this Vegan Bytes podcast episode here:
https://veganbytes.podbean.com/e/examining-dietary-norms-the-impact-on-meat-consumption/
FULL TRANSCRIPT:
Welcome to Vegan Bytes, where we chew on the latest vegan news in bite-sized pieces. Today, we're sinking our teeth into a juicy study from Faunalytics about national norms, identity, and meat consumption.
Picture this: You're at a barbecue in the U.S., hotdogs are sizzling on the grill. Or maybe you're in the U.K., sitting down to a traditional Sunday roast. These scenes are examples of descriptive norms, or behaviors seen as common within a group. But what if we told you that these norms might be influencing your dietary choices more than you think?
This study surveyed over 300 non-vegans from the U.S., U.K., and Australia, countries known for their love of meat. The researchers wanted to see how much these folks identified with their home country, how much meat they thought their compatriots ate, and whether they believed their fellow citizens approved or disapproved of meat-eating.
The results? Well, they were as mixed as a vegan stir-fry. While people viewed meat consumption as a common behavior, they didn't necessarily see it as the ideal diet. But here's the kicker: the more common people thought meat-eating was in their country, the more likely they were to eat meat themselves, even if they didn't think it was the "right" thing to do.
And when people felt that meat-eating was both common and approved of in their country, they were more likely to intend to eat meat. But if these norms were out of sync, how much someone identified with their country played a big role in their meat-eating intentions.
Now, before we go putting all our tofu in one basket, it's important to note that this study focused on high-meat-consuming countries, and the results might be different in other parts of the world. Plus, the study measured intentions to eat meat, not actual meat consumption, so take it with a grain of Himalayan pink salt.
So, what's the takeaway here? Well, it seems that where we live can have a big impact on our food choices. So, for those advocating for a reduction in meat consumption, it might be worth considering these national norms. Maybe it's time to start painting a new picture, one where the barbecue is sizzling with veggie burgers and the Sunday roast is a hearty nut loaf.
That's all we have time for today on Vegan Bytes. Remember, every bite counts when it comes to making the world a more vegan-friendly place. Until next time, keep crunching those veggies!