Pers Soc Psychol Bull February 2012 PMID 21980158

Don't mind meat? The denial of mind to animals used for human consumption.

Brock Bastian, Steve Loughnan, Nick Haslam, Helena R M Radke

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Mentions

121
Peak: 11 in Mar 2024
across 7 sources since Feb 2020

Extended reach

195,367
potential audience

Total likes

1,319

Video views

16,602

Mentions per month

Feb 2020 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter47 posts
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  • Facebook18 posts
  • Blogs14 articles
  • YouTube5 videos
  • Bluesky2 posts
  • Reddit2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions demonstrate high engagement, as users reference and summarize scientific studies such as Bastian et al. (2012), illustrating how the perception of animal minds is systematically denied to justify meat consumption. The tone shifts between factual references and personal opinions, indicating both interest and agreement with the research's implications for understanding societal attitudes toward animals.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the research's findings via references to studies showing how people diminish animal cognition to justify eating meat.

InterestHigh interest

The discussions display a high level of curiosity, with many sharing related studies, expressing opinions, and referencing specific psychological concepts.

EngagementHigh engagement

Posts show deep engagement through detailed references, quoting studies, and discussing psychological mechanisms like dissonance reduction.

ImpactModerate impact

The discourse suggests the research influences how people think about ethical treatment of animals and cognitive dissonance, but the overall change in attitudes isn’t explicitly described.

Abstract in brief

  • People who eat meat tend to deny that animals they consume have significant mental capacities to reduce their guilt or discomfort.
  • Studies show that when people think about eating animals, they often dismiss the animals' ability to think or feel, especially when reminded of animal suffering or the act of killing.
  • This process of denying animal minds helps people feel better about eating meat, as it reduces the emotional conflict and allows them to continue their cultural or personal food habits.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Ben DG
@BenDeGroeve · X

Animals that are viewed as more edible are perceived as having less mind, reducing moral concern. There is evidence that this mind denial is motivated: When people expect eating meat, they are more likely to perceive animals they eat as lacking a mind. 2/ https://t.co/YPSUwNDqC8 https://t.co/A3ULnRaVZD

Jul 18, 2023 · 32 likes · 12 shares · 525 followers View post →
Projet Méduses
@projet-meduses.com · Bluesky

Notre perception change, pas leurs souffrances. #spécisme

Feb 5, 2025 · 31 likes · 7 shares View post →
Nicolas Treich
@Treich13 · X

F. De Waal appelle cela de l'anthropodéni. https://t.co/lyS5qsbhwd Des études en psychologie suggèrent que ce déni peut être motivé (inconsciemment) par l'attachement à la viande : https://t.co/z960uiQcb5 https://t.co/fyc7stDs5r

Jul 29, 2020 · 22 likes · 6 shares · 2,495 followers View post →
Nicolas Treich
@Treich13 · X

Des études expérimentales récentes en psychologie ont étudié ce paradoxe, et montrent que les omnivores ont tendance à nier les capacités cognitives et émotionnelles des animaux, et cherchent des justifications à la conso de viande https://t.co/6cxwyNJbP3 https://t.co/Jbdhx2ObQL

Aug 23, 2020 · 17 likes · 6 shares · 2,495 followers View post →
Yohann Hoarau - Éthique et Psycho (Rdv sur Bsky)
@YohannHoarau · X

@PMeduses @FlorenceDell @RaieFutee @OrlandoHBenta @poissonpodcast @Takara_orca @JihemDoe @clemence_joya Sur la dissonance cognitive relative à la viande, la démentalisation des animaux, et comment on rationnalise leur oppression : https://t.co/lawnVhsMz6 https://t.co/GT8H3utsDB https://t.co/AbNA8G2304 https://t.co/d0E4bQDMqS

Dec 4, 2022 · 12 likes · 523 followers View post →
Comme un poisson dans LE CIEL BLEU (BlueSky)
@poissonpodcast · X

@PMeduses @FlorenceDell @RaieFutee @OrlandoHBenta @YohannHoarau @Takara_orca @JihemDoe @clemence_joya L'étude qui montre le phénomène de 'Mind denial' (démentalisation) : https://t.co/Ua5zDCVYdW

Dec 4, 2022 · 11 likes · 1,988 followers View post →

All mentions

Four Key Actions for Ethical Veganism

This video discusses actions that may cause more harm than good for vegans and emphasizes the importance of proper supplementation, particularly vitamin B12 and vitamin D. Learn more about how to make ethical dietary…

Humane Hancock · Jan 18, 2021 12,795 views
Chayka Hackso
@chaykahackso.bsky.social · Bluesky

Oui, j'avais travaillé dessus récemment, et il y aura une vidéo qui évoque cela dans un mois. En attendant: psycnet.apa.org/record/2010-... ou encore pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21980158

Oct 18, 2025 · 2 likes · 1 share View post →
ADALET KOPEGI miyim ACABa
@layover7blue · X

@emrcnb @ruxzz_ @thehousert "Don't mind meat? The denial of mind to animals used for human consumption" Sana attigim makalelerden SADECE BIRININ basligi. Kandirmaya calissam bu baslikta bi makale mi paylasirim sence? Senin bireysel fikrin gercegi degistirmeyecek. Kal saglicakla yegen

May 17, 2025 · 116 followers View post →
ADALET KOPEGI miyim ACABa
@layover7blue · X

@emrcnb @ruxzz_ @thehousert Bastian, B., Loughnan, S., Haslam, N., & Radke, H. R. (2012). Don't mind meat? The denial of mind to animals used for human consumption. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38(2), 247-256. Plous, S. (1993). Psychological mechanisms in the human use of animals. +

May 17, 2025 · 116 followers View post →
Macrophysiological System
@InVitroFuture · X

@realLPBeria There's this line—people systematically ascribe less sympathetic mental features to animals they eat/are told that others eat. Pigs being only "for" food should exacerbate this. But/ https://t.co/HTKDDsnc1e https://t.co/jCyvIb8lsX https://t.co/OQ2xiCMjFO https://t.co/OQ2xiCMjFO https://t.co/Uwyw3SMT0i

May 12, 2025 · 2 likes · 1,508 followers View post →
Projet Méduses
@projet-meduses.com · Bluesky

Notre perception change, pas leurs souffrances. #spécisme

Feb 5, 2025 · 31 likes · 7 shares View post →
Marie-Hélène
@luffy_mh · X

RT @RosaBDB12: Role of dissonance reduction in facilitating the practice of meat eating and protecting cultural commitments. https://t.co…

Jul 17, 2024 · 1 share · 1,358 followers View post →
Insolente Veggie
@RosaBDB12 · X

Role of dissonance reduction in facilitating the practice of meat eating and protecting cultural commitments. https://t.co/06fvUaVHiM

Jul 17, 2024 · 2 likes · 1 share · 12,759 followers View post →
Dr FGuardian
@fish_guardian · X

RT @BenDeGroeve: Animals that are viewed as more edible are perceived as having less mind, reducing moral concern. There is evidence that t…

Mar 6, 2024 · 12 shares · 373 followers View post →
Maureen Campbell
@Maureen1355 · X

RT @BenDeGroeve: Animals that are viewed as more edible are perceived as having less mind, reducing moral concern. There is evidence that t…

Mar 5, 2024 · 12 shares · 124 followers View post →
Alan@Alan Ⓥ Pigoneer ™
@AlanAlan5240751 · X

RT @BenDeGroeve: Animals that are viewed as more edible are perceived as having less mind, reducing moral concern. There is evidence that t…

Mar 5, 2024 · 12 shares · 7,851 followers View post →
Stephen
@Steveyof3IR3 · X

RT @BenDeGroeve: Animals that are viewed as more edible are perceived as having less mind, reducing moral concern. There is evidence that t…

Mar 5, 2024 · 12 shares · 1,205 followers View post →
TheEmpathyProjectUK
@empathy_uk · X

RT @BenDeGroeve: Animals that are viewed as more edible are perceived as having less mind, reducing moral concern. There is evidence that t…

Mar 5, 2024 · 12 shares · 1,040 followers View post →
Earthlings
@GoVeganWorld · X

RT @BenDeGroeve: Animals that are viewed as more edible are perceived as having less mind, reducing moral concern. There is evidence that t…

Mar 5, 2024 · 12 shares · 4,276 followers View post →
⅃ɵ෴eL
@joel27799310 · X

⛲https://t.co/Gkzwna3FXg

Mar 5, 2024 · 1,071 followers View post →
Danjer Mousse
@DanjerMousse · X

RT @BenDeGroeve: Animals that are viewed as more edible are perceived as having less mind, reducing moral concern. There is evidence that t…

Mar 5, 2024 · 12 shares · 178 followers View post →
Tero Parviainen
@teropa · X

RT @BenDeGroeve: Animals that are viewed as more edible are perceived as having less mind, reducing moral concern. There is evidence that t…

Mar 5, 2024 · 12 shares · 9,662 followers View post →
Prof Sophie Scott CBE
@sophiescott · X

RT @BenDeGroeve: Animals that are viewed as more edible are perceived as having less mind, reducing moral concern. There is evidence that t…

Mar 5, 2024 · 12 shares · 26,381 followers View post →
VickyVix
@Vics_Echidna · X

RT @BenDeGroeve: Animals that are viewed as more edible are perceived as having less mind, reducing moral concern. There is evidence that t…

Mar 4, 2024 · 12 shares · 1,153 followers View post →
Tuomas Salonen
@tuomasolavi · X

@tereensio Ja sit toiset on nää Bastian, Loughnan ja Haslan: https://t.co/BthVnwfcKO

Jan 9, 2024 · 1,397 followers View post →
M Takeshita ⓥ
@Masashi_T_nlp · X

代表的?なものをあげると Bastian et al. 2012: https://t.co/2q7GuweynV Dhont et al. 2016: https://t.co/ZKg7BZ5Wcl Caviola et al. 2019: https://t.co/h1AfSMhn5r

Jan 3, 2024 · 1 like · 1,136 followers View post →
Enrique M San Vicente
@CEnjunque · X

RT @BenDeGroeve: Animals that are viewed as more edible are perceived as having less mind, reducing moral concern. There is evidence that t…

Jul 18, 2023 · 12 shares · 160 followers View post →
Ben DG
@BenDeGroeve · X

Animals that are viewed as more edible are perceived as having less mind, reducing moral concern. There is evidence that this mind denial is motivated: When people expect eating meat, they are more likely to perceive animals they eat as lacking a mind. 2/ https://t.co/YPSUwNDqC8 https://t.co/A3ULnRaVZD

Jul 18, 2023 · 32 likes · 12 shares · 525 followers View post →
Nicolas Colin
@LeChat84 · X

@_veganayrto For example : https://t.co/O3ilY9oudc

Jan 15, 2023 · 792 followers View post →
Yohann Hoarau - Éthique et Psycho (Rdv sur Bsky)
@YohannHoarau · X

@PMeduses @FlorenceDell @RaieFutee @OrlandoHBenta @poissonpodcast @Takara_orca @JihemDoe @clemence_joya Sur la dissonance cognitive relative à la viande, la démentalisation des animaux, et comment on rationnalise leur oppression : https://t.co/lawnVhsMz6 https://t.co/GT8H3utsDB https://t.co/AbNA8G2304 https://t.co/d0E4bQDMqS

Dec 4, 2022 · 12 likes · 523 followers View post →
Comme un poisson dans LE CIEL BLEU (BlueSky)
@poissonpodcast · X

@PMeduses @FlorenceDell @RaieFutee @OrlandoHBenta @YohannHoarau @Takara_orca @JihemDoe @clemence_joya L'étude qui montre le phénomène de 'Mind denial' (démentalisation) : https://t.co/Ua5zDCVYdW

Dec 4, 2022 · 11 likes · 1,988 followers View post →
ROSA CANINA c.l.PHARMA
@ROSACANINACLUB · X

Don’t Mind Meat? The Denial of Mind to Animals Used for Human Consumption - Brock Bastian, Steve Loughnan, Nick Haslam, Helena R. M. Radke, 2012 https://t.co/TbxpNa8F5Y

Oct 20, 2022 · 278 followers View post →
LindaG
@lindagaes · X

@CuriepolisBuch Das geschieht sogar auf ganz individueller Ebene, liegt also nicht nur an der gesellsch. Perzeption. : https://t.co/MnTED7qe5M

Mar 28, 2022 · 1 like · 42 followers View post →
Veg_analytic
@Veganalytic · X

Issus de : Don’t Mind Meat? The Denial of Mind to Animals Used for Human Consumption, B. Bastian et al., Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (2011) https://t.co/A4pxji7XU6 #animals #mind

Sep 21, 2021 · 3 likes · 1,446 followers View post →
Henri Mourant
@henri_mourant · X

@AngelicaOung This also might be worth checking out: https://t.co/cmLVvvDD4v

Jun 4, 2021 · 1 like · 986 followers View post →
Tay
@BioTay · X

@Explanimals @AnimalLawCustom @asab_tweets @animalcog @AnimBehSociety Well, there is a denial of the minds of animals used for consumption (paper, 2012) https://t.co/FWoSOn7Qy0 and those animal minds matter less when belong to "food animals" (paper, 2016) https://t.co/n7n8kxGDrV about conservation it's probably a matter of being charismatic 1/2

Feb 17, 2021 · 2 likes · 20,303 followers View post →
Michael John Smith
@londonerabroad · X

4 Things Vegans Should STOP Doing https://t.co/4hmofvNuCU via @YouTube

Jan 18, 2021 · 4,391 followers View post →
Rudy Patel
@Draven974 · X

RT @Treich13: Des études expérimentales récentes en psychologie ont étudié ce paradoxe, et montrent que les omnivores ont tendance à nier l…

Oct 2, 2020 · 6 shares · 1,881 followers View post →
Anne -marie
@GrosUsai · X

RT @Treich13: Des études expérimentales récentes en psychologie ont étudié ce paradoxe, et montrent que les omnivores ont tendance à nier l…

Aug 24, 2020 · 6 shares · 3,024 followers View post →
Gaëtan Andrieux
@gaetan_andrieux · X

RT @Treich13: Des études expérimentales récentes en psychologie ont étudié ce paradoxe, et montrent que les omnivores ont tendance à nier l…

Aug 24, 2020 · 6 shares · 431 followers View post →
20 100
@vin10068616112 · X

RT @Treich13: Des études expérimentales récentes en psychologie ont étudié ce paradoxe, et montrent que les omnivores ont tendance à nier l…

Aug 24, 2020 · 6 shares · 26 followers View post →
Dana Idette
@DanaIdette · X

RT @Treich13: Des études expérimentales récentes en psychologie ont étudié ce paradoxe, et montrent que les omnivores ont tendance à nier l…

Aug 24, 2020 · 6 shares · 97 followers View post →
Nicolas Treich
@Treich13 · X

Des études expérimentales récentes en psychologie ont étudié ce paradoxe, et montrent que les omnivores ont tendance à nier les capacités cognitives et émotionnelles des animaux, et cherchent des justifications à la conso de viande https://t.co/6cxwyNJbP3 https://t.co/Jbdhx2ObQL

Aug 23, 2020 · 17 likes · 6 shares · 2,495 followers View post →
Raimon Sabater
@Raimon_Sabater · X

RT @Treich13: F. De Waal appelle cela de l'anthropodéni. https://t.co/lyS5qsbhwd Des études en psychologie suggèrent que ce déni peut êtr…

Jul 30, 2020 · 6 shares · 475 followers View post →
FOURCHET CHRISTIANE
@FOURCHETCHRISTI · X

RT @Treich13: F. De Waal appelle cela de l'anthropodéni. https://t.co/lyS5qsbhwd Des études en psychologie suggèrent que ce déni peut êtr…

Jul 29, 2020 · 6 shares · 16,676 followers View post →
Rudy Patel
@Draven974 · X

RT @Treich13: F. De Waal appelle cela de l'anthropodéni. https://t.co/lyS5qsbhwd Des études en psychologie suggèrent que ce déni peut êtr…

Jul 29, 2020 · 6 shares · 1,881 followers View post →
20 100
@vin10068616112 · X

RT @Treich13: F. De Waal appelle cela de l'anthropodéni. https://t.co/lyS5qsbhwd Des études en psychologie suggèrent que ce déni peut êtr…

Jul 29, 2020 · 6 shares · 26 followers View post →
ZiZouil
@ZiZouiL · X

RT @Treich13: F. De Waal appelle cela de l'anthropodéni. https://t.co/lyS5qsbhwd Des études en psychologie suggèrent que ce déni peut êtr…

Jul 29, 2020 · 6 shares · 158 followers View post →
Brigitte Gothière
@BGothiere · X

RT @Treich13: F. De Waal appelle cela de l'anthropodéni. https://t.co/lyS5qsbhwd Des études en psychologie suggèrent que ce déni peut êtr…

Jul 29, 2020 · 6 shares · 10,955 followers View post →
Nicolas Treich
@Treich13 · X

F. De Waal appelle cela de l'anthropodéni. https://t.co/lyS5qsbhwd Des études en psychologie suggèrent que ce déni peut être motivé (inconsciemment) par l'attachement à la viande : https://t.co/z960uiQcb5 https://t.co/fyc7stDs5r

Jul 29, 2020 · 22 likes · 6 shares · 2,495 followers View post →
no one
@ValMackinnon · X

RT @MarcBracke: Don’t Mind Meat? The Denial of Mind to Animals Used for Human Consumption - Brock Bastian, Steve Loughnan, Nick Haslam, Hel…

Jun 7, 2020 · 4,369 followers View post →
Marc Bracke
@MarcBracke · X

Don’t Mind Meat? The Denial of Mind to Animals Used for Human Consumption - Brock Bastian, Steve Loughnan, Nick Haslam, Helena R. M. Radke, 2012 ⁦via @Treich13⁩ https://t.co/iUjWHBOpsK

Jun 7, 2020 · 1 like · 5,463 followers View post →
Nicolas Treich
@Treich13 · X

@MarcBracke @TheIronyBro Yes this figure is very nice. It is not ours, it comes from this study: https://t.co/z960uiQcb5

Jun 7, 2020 · 2 likes · 2,495 followers View post →
Florence Dellerie (compte inactif)
@FlorenceDell · X

@Tango12427138 Et Brock Bastian & Al., Don’t Mind Meat? The Denial of Mind to Animals Used for Human Consumption, 2011, DOI: 10.1177/0146167211424291 https://t.co/9E3U3kBBPL

Mar 27, 2020 · 9,458 followers View post →
Insolente Veggie
@RosaBDB12 · X

https://t.co/i38dYyIcQi

Feb 29, 2020 · 1 like · 12,759 followers View post →