Why Vegetarians Desire Power More Than Meat Eaters

Recent research indicates that vegetarians are not only passionate about environmentalism but also display a notable desire for power.

A study reveals that individuals who follow a vegetarian diet exhibit a stronger inclination towards seeking power in comparison to those who consume meat. Moreover, vegetarians tend to prioritize social status while showing less emphasis on attributes such as kindness and conformity.

Although the differences in perspectives between vegetarians and meat eaters are relatively minor, Professor John Nezlek from SWPS University in Warsaw, who spearheaded the study, believes these findings challenge the outdated stereotype of vegetarians as solely peaceful and gentle individuals.

Instead, vegetarians were found to endorse values often associated with traditional masculinity more than their omnivorous counterparts.

According to Nezlek, “Historically, there has been a connection between meat consumption and masculinity, with women more frequently adopting vegetarian diets. The primary motivations for people to become vegetarians include health benefits, environmental concerns, and animal welfare ethics.

Combining these factors might lead one to expect that vegetarians would be more generous and less assertive, but my findings suggest the exact opposite.”

The study involved over 3,500 participants from Poland and the United States, including around 800 vegetarians. They were presented with brief character descriptions, such as: “Being very successful is essential to him. He enjoys impressing others.” Participants then evaluated how much they identified with these characters on a scale of one (not like me at all) to six (very much like me).

Results indicated that in both Poland and the U.S., vegetarians were significantly more aligned with values related to power, defined as the desire to have control over people and resources. They also valued achievement and stimulation, indicating a higher level of ambition and greater desire for excitement, novelty, and personal challenges.

In contrast, meat eaters prioritized benevolence (caring for family and friends), security (safety and social stability), conformity (avoiding upset among others), and tradition (respecting established norms).

While vegetarianism constitutes a minority lifestyle in the UK, it is experiencing a rise in popularity. As of January, a YouGov survey indicated that 6% of UK adults identified as vegetarian and 3% as vegan. Additionally, 13% described themselves as flexitarian, following a mostly plant-based diet with occasional meat, and 2% identified as pescatarian, consuming fish. Over 70% continued to identify as omnivorous.

The findings, published in the journal PLOS One, showed that the differences in personal values between vegetarians and meat eaters are not vast. The distinction regarding power was found to be small to moderate, according to psychological scales.

These modest differences are significant when observed in large samples but might not be easily noticeable in everyday discussions. Nezlek emphasized, “While these differences are small, they can lead to substantial effects over time and in aggregate.”

He speculates that this desire for power may stem from vegetarians historically perceiving themselves as a “besieged minority”. Other research has demonstrated that vegetarians often receive more negative feedback regarding their dietary choices compared to omnivores. “When viewed from this perspective, it becomes clearer: adhering to a vegetarian diet may require a certain level of psychological resilience,” he noted.

Thus, it seems a bit of tenacity accompanies the greens.