any place of amusement That are slaughterhouses, was actually already in front of the Corona mass breakout at the industry giant Tönnies in Rheda-Wiedenbrück known. As well as the fact that the production of cheap meat – works in the chips for 3.99 euros per Kilo in the supermarket, only at the expense of health, animals and the environment. Because the grievances in the case of Tönnies by far not the first meat scandal in Germany.

just last year, Wilke Waldecker meat and sausage had to were three deaths from Listeria, the provisional insolvency. And also the animal disease BSE in the 1980s and 1990s, which was triggered by the feeding of animal meal, is many a term, as well as the rotten meat scandal in Wild products of the company Berger Wild from Passau in the year 2006.

Nevertheless, have contributed to the scandals and unpleasant reports only due to a fundamental Change in the consumption. Although the meat consumption drops in Germany tend to be easy. In the year 2019, the human consumption of meat amounted to approximately 59,5 kg per head, while in 2018 were 61.1 kg per capita.

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But at the same time a beginning of the year, published by Greenpeace comes-investigation of the nine supermarket chains, the result is that most of the sold meat comes from a precarious animal husbandry - cheap meat in the supermarket-offer dominated now as it was before.

The customer interferes with, apparently, little. Rather, he seems to be able to aware that the purchase of cheap meat is detrimental to the Well-being of animals and humans. But why is that?

"In psychology, one speaks of a so-called cognitive dissonance," says Dr. Tamara pillar from the Psychological Institute of the Johannes-Gutenberg-University of Mainz. She research interests include the psychology of meat eating. Cognitive dissonance, we all know. It does not occur then, if things are as we want them. Because our behavior doesn't match with our Thinking or our views, values and morals, appears to be in danger to our self-concept, says pillar. "We all want to be good people."

As a result, we talk to ourselves - just the negative things said - beautiful. In particular, those that cause in us a perceived unpleasant emotional state or a contradiction. There is a rich selection of strategies.

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it is also eat meat. People often do not know that cheap meat is bad or there is a high consumption of meat, well, on the other hand, they eat it but more. This results in a contradiction. "These people can reduce, for example, by saying that it lies in the nature of man to eat meat," explains Tamara cob. Because the opposition is small talk easier than habits. It is, therefore, a kind of self-deception.

In a study has looked at the pillars, with what arguments people have for their consumption of meat to justify. The result: "most of the people that you like the taste, followed by the habit of influence from the social environment or health Considerations. So a diet without meat is considered to be about as unhealthy. But that has nothing to do with the truth.“ Stereotypes and beliefs play a crucial role when it comes to defending one's own behavior. This will have to do, according to the cob but less with facts. "From a health and ethical perspective, as well as environmental aspects, it makes no sense to eat more meat," says the psychologist.

create a function But how can, given this is now a real change of consciousness in the consumption of meat? That is not so easy, also know Tamara cob. The Problem: "You can employ hardly independent of his own behavior with the theme. But when we discuss, we talk often about the fact that the other has to justify his own behavior.“ Although it would be in society at least in approaches to an ethical debate, but no awareness of the sociological, psychological mechanisms – i.e., about the function of self-deception.

Nevertheless, she believes that in the company of a real behavior change is possible, even if it takes a "great motivator". For this, she has good arguments: "Corona has shown that people are quite willing to change their behaviour if a threat or high social relevance of the topic is present." From their point of view, a change of consciousness in society can not be achieved but through a sole measure. There is a need for a meaningful mix of instruments. Pillar says: "The theme must be clearly communicated."

• read also: infections uncover abuses in the meat industry, four measures are designed to change

at the same time regulations from the government were necessary, and "it must be psychologically relevant to humans." That is to say, the health or climate technical drawbacks, the meat or cheap meat must still be conscious – for example, through numerous campaigns. Because: "A change in behavior only works if you know that you are gaining something and not losing," says pillar.

That such a strategic field trains can certainly be crowned with success, one looks into your eyes for example, on the Image of the tobacco industry. "For a long time Smoking for freedom stand, and was considered sexy. By very much the work of enlightenment, and by political regulations, is entered in the population but into the consciousness of the society, that it is harmful to health.“ Since then, the Numbers of smokers had dropped significantly.

Maybe we soon will also be a similar effect in the flesh – even if the way there is likely to be long. Cold air drops keeps heat-wave short-in check - but here, 37 degrees to be cracked PCP cold air drops heat wave stops short in chess, but here are the 37 degree be cracked in The world is better than your bad news - FOCUS Online provides you every Friday with the best stories from the field perspectives. Subscribe here for free Newsletter: