Petterson, Aino, Currie, Gregory Paul orcid.org/0000-0001-8364-997X, Friend, Stacie et al. (1 more author) (2022) The Effect of Narratives on Attitudes Toward Animal Welfare and Pro-Social Behaviour on Behalf of Animals : Three Pre-registered Experiments. Poetics. 101709. ISSN 0304-422X
Abstract
We report three randomised and pre-registered experiments examining the effects of narrative fiction (vs. narrative non-fiction vs. expository non-fiction) on concern for animal welfare. In Experiment 1a (N = 363) there was no significant increase in concern for animal welfare or willingness to donate to an animal charity among participants who read a narrative fiction text about a monkey's plight (vs. narrative non-fiction or expository non-fiction texts about a monkey). In Experiment 1b (N =121) concern for animal welfare and willingness to donate was greater after reading the narrative fiction text compared to a narrative non-fiction text unrelated to animals. Experiment 2 (N =184) employed a simplified design and more severe depiction of animal abuse, but showed no beneficial effect of reading a narrative fiction text about a monkey's plight (vs. a narrative non-fiction text unrelated to animals) on either measure. Experiment 3 (N =290) compared a narrative fiction and a non-fiction text about a monkey or a lizard; participants who read a narrative fiction text, irrespective of the animal depicted, reported greater concern for animal welfare, monkey welfare, lizard welfare and nature (vs. a narrative non-fiction text). However, participants were no more willing to donate in the narrative fiction (vs. non-fiction) condition. These results suggest that reading a narrative fiction text about an animal's plight has a limited effect on concern for animal welfare.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2022 The Authors |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Arts and Humanities (York) > Philosophy (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 17 Jan 2024 09:20 |
Last Modified: | 21 Mar 2024 00:23 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2022.101709 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2022.101709 |
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Description: The effect of narratives on attitudes toward animal welfare and pro-social behaviour on behalf of animals: Three pre-registered experiments
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