Children differ dramatically from adults in their moral views on animals, new research shows.
University of Exeter researchers asked children aged 9-11 about the moral status and treatment of farm animals (pigs), pets (dogs) and people.
Unlike adults, children say farm animals should be treated the same as people and pets, and think eating animals is less morally acceptable than adults do.
The findings suggest that “speciesism” – a moral hierarchy that gives different value to different animals – is learned during adolescence.
Read full article: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/research/title_907430_en.html