Excellent article. Thank you! Do you think changing the minds of kids in terms of animal welfare requires something different than discussed in your substack?
Thanks for your comment, and glad you found the newsletter helpful. Animal Think Tank hasn't done any opinion research with children yet, nor are we aware of any research around effective communications with young people. But we think that a slightly different communications approach would be needed. Obviously not showing them graphic imagery. Protecting their identity of being a 'good person' and being mindful that they don't have as much autonomy over their lives (e.g. the food they buy), so being thoughtful about how they can feel empowered to make change in a capacity that they would have influence over (e.g. boycotting visits to zoos and visiting sanctuaries instead). And also using a 'social proof' technique, showing that other children are curious about this issue, care and are taking some kind of action. To model how they can do the same.
We see children as an important advocacy group (especially as they haven't been as conditioned by speciesist norms yet). We hope to explore research and testing with children of various ages in the future.
Thanks for your response. I'm launching a middle-grade adventure novel in September that will increase awareness of puppy mills. Initially I tried to write it as nonfiction, but with each try I thought, "If I were a middle grader I wouldn't want to read this!" So, I pivoted to fiction. I'm also developing a nonprofit called Kids United for Animal Welfare. I will keep an eye out to see what your exploratory research and testing uncovers.
Excellent article. Thank you! Do you think changing the minds of kids in terms of animal welfare requires something different than discussed in your substack?
Thanks for your comment, and glad you found the newsletter helpful. Animal Think Tank hasn't done any opinion research with children yet, nor are we aware of any research around effective communications with young people. But we think that a slightly different communications approach would be needed. Obviously not showing them graphic imagery. Protecting their identity of being a 'good person' and being mindful that they don't have as much autonomy over their lives (e.g. the food they buy), so being thoughtful about how they can feel empowered to make change in a capacity that they would have influence over (e.g. boycotting visits to zoos and visiting sanctuaries instead). And also using a 'social proof' technique, showing that other children are curious about this issue, care and are taking some kind of action. To model how they can do the same.
We see children as an important advocacy group (especially as they haven't been as conditioned by speciesist norms yet). We hope to explore research and testing with children of various ages in the future.
Thanks for your response. I'm launching a middle-grade adventure novel in September that will increase awareness of puppy mills. Initially I tried to write it as nonfiction, but with each try I thought, "If I were a middle grader I wouldn't want to read this!" So, I pivoted to fiction. I'm also developing a nonprofit called Kids United for Animal Welfare. I will keep an eye out to see what your exploratory research and testing uncovers.