Environmental and Animal Abuse Denial: Averting Our Gaze

Environmental and Animal Abuse Denial: Averting Our Gaze explores how people avoid awareness of climate change, environmental pollution, animal abuse, and the animal industrial complex, challenging the information-deficit model and proposing denialism as a factor. Contributors examine the theory through various disciplines.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 242 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2022
Publisher: Lexington Books

Environmental pollution and animal abuse continue to be major global concerns, despite ongoing efforts to educate the public and raise awareness. However, the staggering rate of these issues challenges the prevailing belief that the absence of serious action is a consequence of a poorly informed public. In recent decades, alternative explanations of social and political inaction have emerged, including denialism. Denialism proposes that people actively avoid unpleasant information that threatens their established worldviews, lifestyles, and identities. Environmental and Animal Abuse Denial: Averting Our Gaze examines how people avoid awareness of climate change, environmental pollution, animal abuse, and the animal industrial complex. The contributors examine the theory of denialism in regards to environmental pollution and animal abuse through a range of disciplines, including social psychology, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, cultural history, and law.

Environmental pollution and animal abuse are two of the most pressing global issues facing our planet today. Despite ongoing efforts to educate the public and raise awareness, the rate of these problems continues to rise. This has led to the emergence of alternative explanations of social and political inaction, including denialism. Denialism suggests that people actively avoid unpleasant information that threatens their established worldviews, lifestyles, and identities.

Environmental and Animal Abuse Denial: Averting Our Gaze is a book that explores the theory of denialism in regards to environmental pollution and animal abuse. The contributors examine the theory through a range of disciplines, including social psychology, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, cultural history, and law.

One of the key arguments of denialism is that people are not aware of the severity of the environmental and animal abuse problems. This is often attributed to a lack of education and awareness. However, the contributors argue that this is not the whole story. They suggest that people are actively avoiding information that challenges their worldviews and lifestyles.

One of the ways that people avoid information is through cognitive biases. Cognitive biases are mental shortcuts that we use to make decisions and interpret information. They can be influenced by a variety of factors, including our personal beliefs, values, and experiences. For example, if we believe that climate change is not a real problem, we may be more likely to ignore information that contradicts our beliefs.

Another way that people avoid information is through social norms. Social norms are the rules and expectations that govern our behavior in society. They can be influenced by a variety of factors, including our culture, religion, and social class. For example, if we believe that animal abuse is acceptable, we may be more likely to ignore information that suggests that it is not.

Denialism can have serious consequences for our planet. For example, climate change is causing rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and loss of biodiversity. Animal abuse is causing suffering and death to millions of animals. If we are not aware of these problems, we are not able to take action to address them.

However, there are ways that we can address denialism. One of the most effective ways is to provide education and awareness. This can be done through schools, universities, and community organizations. We can also use social media and other forms of media to spread awareness.

Another way that we can address denialism is to challenge our own beliefs and values. This can be difficult, but it is essential if we are to make progress. We can start by asking ourselves questions about our beliefs and values and then seeking out information that challenges them.

In addition to education and awareness, we can also take action to address the environmental and animal abuse problems. This can include reducing our carbon footprint, supporting animal welfare organizations, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

However, it is important to recognize that addressing denialism is not a simple task. It requires a sustained effort from all of us. We must be willing to challenge our own beliefs and values and to work together to create a better world for ourselves and for future generations.

In conclusion, environmental pollution and animal abuse are two of the most pressing global issues facing our planet today. Despite ongoing efforts to educate the public and raise awareness, the rate of these problems continues to rise. Denialism is a theory that suggests that people actively avoid unpleasant information that threatens their established worldviews, lifestyles, and identities. By providing education and awareness, challenging our own beliefs and values, and taking action to address the environmental and animal abuse problems, we can help to avert our gaze and create a better world for ourselves and for future generations.

Weight: 395g
Dimension: 227 x 151 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793610485