Impact of Ethical Ideologies on Students' Attitude toward Animals -A Pakistani Perspective


Asiya Khalid, University of Regina

Animals play various crucial roles in Pakistan, including as pets, food animals, transport animals, and working animals. However, very little is empirically explored and understood regarding how people view and treat animals in general and how these views affect perceptions and attitudes of animal welfare. The beliefs and cultural norms of a country can influence considerations regarding animal welfare. Among these beliefs, ethical ideologies can have a significant impact on the moral reasoning and decision-making of individuals and their concern for animal welfare. Young adults especially are at a fundamental stage of transitioning into adulthood while also occupying an essential role in the future of their society. This study explored how two components of ethical ideologies, idealism (universal principles for making moral decisions) and relativism (variation in ethical decision-making based on different situations), influenced attitude toward animals’ welfare among undergraduate students. The study used a cross-sectional correlational research design. The study variables were explored through a demographic sheet, Ethics Position Questionnaire (EPQ), the Animal Attitude Scale—10-Item Version (AAS-10), and Animal Issue Scale (AIS). By using stratified random sampling, the study recruited 450 students from both private and public sector universities in Pakistan. The data was analyzed by using Pearson Product Moment Correlation, independent sample t-test, ANOVA, and linear regression. Results indicated a significant positive relationship between idealism and relativism components of ethical ideologies and positive attitude toward animals. Further, students who less frequently consumed meat reported higher levels of relativism. Students in later years of their program had more idealistic tendencies regarding animal welfare as compared to newer students. Lastly, idealism positively predicted concern for animal welfare among study participants. The current study shed light on how ethical ideologies shaped and influenced concern for animal welfare among students. Previous studies in the US and China showed relativism was negatively correlated with positive attitudes toward animals, which was not found to be the case in the present study. The collectivist culture of Pakistan may account for this difference, given that the collective good was preferred on the whole and situational factors were less accounted for in overall decision-making processes. Beliefs, ethical practices, and culture of a country, especially amongst its emerging young adults, can have a great impact on the treatment extended to animals in various roles, so further research could be beneficial for exploring this domain, with findings of the current study being a starting point in this direction. This understanding, and consequently implementation for change, is crucial for promoting educational awareness and concern for animal welfare, including ‘decision-making competence’ in the future. Further, using ethical ideologies to address sustainability problems and promote a more environmentally conscious society will ensure that all voices are accounted for, especially those that are more likely to be marginalized or ignored, such as those of animals and the future generations.

Non-presenting authors: Pim Martens, University College Venlo, Maastricht University; Aliya Khalid, University of Saskatchewan

This paper will be presented at the following session: