How Some Children Learn to Love Some Animals and Eat Others

Children often show deep care for animals, yet somehow grow up to accept their exploitation as normal. What changes along the way? Drawing on psychological science, this session explores how children’s moral views of animals develop and shift over time, and the factors that shape who is seen as worthy of care and who is not. The speakers highlight what this developmental shift means for understanding speciesism and why understanding these shifts may be crucial for effective animal advocacy. ------ Presentation at VARC 2026 VARC brings together advocates, organisers, and researchers to strengthen the UK animal advocacy movement. Views expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect those of VARC. Learn more about VARC and future events: www.varconference.com