Polarizing plates : both omnivores and vegans represent in-group foods with eating simulations

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Davis, Tess and Harkins, Libby and Papies, Esther K. (2025) Polarizing plates : both omnivores and vegans represent in-group foods with eating simulations. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 51 (5). pp. 742-758. ISSN 1552-7433 (https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672231202276)

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Abstract

In two pre-registered experiments, we assessed how people cognitively represent meat and plant-based foods, to examine processes underlying dietary polarization in society. Food descriptions from U.K.-based omnivores (NExp. 1 = 109; NExp. 2 = 436) and vegans (NExp. 1 = 111; NExp. 2 = 407) were coded for features about consumption and reward (e.g., “rich,” “indulgent,” and “treat”) or features independent of the consumption situation (e.g., “healthy,” “protein,” and “eco-friendly”). Participants used more consumption and reward features for diet-congruent dishes (meat dishes for omnivores and plant-based dishes for vegans) than for diet-incongruent dishes (vice versa). Omnivores focused on abstract, long-term consequences of plant-based foods, whereas vegans focused on the socio-political associations with meat foods. Consumption and reward features also positively predicted attractiveness ratings, the likelihood of ordering a dish, and eating intentions. These findings indicate the cognitive processes of polarized dietary groups that may hinder the mainstream transition to more sustainable food choices.

ORCID iDs

Davis, Tess ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7001-7439, Harkins, Libby and Papies, Esther K.;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)