Man's best friend(s): Effects of a brief befriending meditation on human-animal relations.

In two studies using samples representative of the US adult population with regard to age, sex and ethnicity, we investigated relationships between loving-kindness and compassion-based practices with speciesism, animal solidarity and desire to help animals. In a cross-sectional study (Study 1, N = 2...

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Main Authors: Otto Simonsson, Simon B Goldberg, Walter Osika
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278704
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author Otto Simonsson
Simon B Goldberg
Walter Osika
author_facet Otto Simonsson
Simon B Goldberg
Walter Osika
author_sort Otto Simonsson
collection DOAJ
description In two studies using samples representative of the US adult population with regard to age, sex and ethnicity, we investigated relationships between loving-kindness and compassion-based practices with speciesism, animal solidarity and desire to help animals. In a cross-sectional study (Study 1, N = 2,822), results showed that past 30 days practice and estimated lifetime number of hours of lovingkindness or compassion meditation were associated with more animal solidarity and greater desire to help animals. Past 30 days practice was also associated with less speciesism, but only when adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. In an experimental study (Study 2, N = 1,102), results showed that participants randomized to a befriending meditation (a practice similar to loving-kindness and compassion meditation) condition scored higher on animal solidarity and desire to help animals than participants randomized to a control condition. No significant difference was observed on speciesism, but mediation analyses suggested that effects on all three outcomes were mediated through perceived commonality with animals.
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spelling doaj.art-c0e0e6d7cb6d43e1a7ba2d0e36ad51a02023-01-14T05:31:30ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-011712e027870410.1371/journal.pone.0278704Man's best friend(s): Effects of a brief befriending meditation on human-animal relations.Otto SimonssonSimon B GoldbergWalter OsikaIn two studies using samples representative of the US adult population with regard to age, sex and ethnicity, we investigated relationships between loving-kindness and compassion-based practices with speciesism, animal solidarity and desire to help animals. In a cross-sectional study (Study 1, N = 2,822), results showed that past 30 days practice and estimated lifetime number of hours of lovingkindness or compassion meditation were associated with more animal solidarity and greater desire to help animals. Past 30 days practice was also associated with less speciesism, but only when adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. In an experimental study (Study 2, N = 1,102), results showed that participants randomized to a befriending meditation (a practice similar to loving-kindness and compassion meditation) condition scored higher on animal solidarity and desire to help animals than participants randomized to a control condition. No significant difference was observed on speciesism, but mediation analyses suggested that effects on all three outcomes were mediated through perceived commonality with animals.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278704
spellingShingle Otto Simonsson
Simon B Goldberg
Walter Osika
Man's best friend(s): Effects of a brief befriending meditation on human-animal relations.
PLoS ONE
title Man's best friend(s): Effects of a brief befriending meditation on human-animal relations.
title_full Man's best friend(s): Effects of a brief befriending meditation on human-animal relations.
title_fullStr Man's best friend(s): Effects of a brief befriending meditation on human-animal relations.
title_full_unstemmed Man's best friend(s): Effects of a brief befriending meditation on human-animal relations.
title_short Man's best friend(s): Effects of a brief befriending meditation on human-animal relations.
title_sort man s best friend s effects of a brief befriending meditation on human animal relations
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278704
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