In a groundbreaking study soon to be published in BMC Psychology, researchers Sayat and Bozo dive deep into the complex web of cultural narratives that shape meat consumption in Türkiye. Their work not only introduces culturally adapted and validated tools for measuring justifications related to meat-eating but also reveals significant psychological and social correlates tied to these justifications. This study is particularly timely, considering the global momentum toward understanding and possibly reducing meat consumption for health, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare reasons.
The researchers embarked on a rigorous cultural adaptation of two well-established measurement scales: the Meat-Eating Justification (MEJ) scale and the ‘4Ns’ framework — which categorizes primary justifications as “Natural,” “Necessary,” “Normal,” and “Nice.” By tailoring these instruments to the Turkish socio-cultural context, they ensured cultural relevance and validity, a critical step often overlooked in cross-cultural psychological assessment.
Türkiye presents a unique cultural landscape where traditional culinary practices intertwine with modern influences, making it an ideal setting to examine how meat-eating is rationalized. The significance of these justifications extends beyond dietary preferences; they influence policy-making, consumer behavior, and ethical debates surrounding animal rights and environmental concerns within the country and beyond.
The MEJ scale, originally developed in Western contexts, attempts to quantify how individuals cognitively justify their consumption of meat despite increasing awareness of its negative consequences. Sayat and Bozo’s adaptation involved meticulous translation, back-translation, and pilot testing procedures to ensure semantic equivalence and cultural resonance for Turkish participants, a methodological gold standard in cross-cultural psychology.
Likewise, the 4Ns scale was adapted to reflect culturally specific understandings of what it means for meat-eating to be “natural” or “necessary.” For example, in Türkiye, traditional festivities and religious practices often emphasize meat consumption, which could influence perceptions of ‘normalcy’ and ‘naturalness’ in ways absent in other contexts. The researchers accounted for these nuances, refining items to capture such culturally embedded rationalizations accurately.
Validation of these scales was conducted through extensive surveys with diverse demographic groups across urban and rural Türkiye. Statistical analysis confirmed high reliability and construct validity, suggesting the instruments are robust measures to capture the underlying psychological constructs motivating meat consumption within this population.
One of the study’s more intriguing findings is the correlation of meat-eating justifications with demographic and attitudinal variables. For instance, stronger endorsement of the 4Ns was associated with higher levels of traditionalism, lower concern for animal welfare, and less engagement with environmental sustainability issues. Such correlations provide insight into potential psychological barriers to dietary change.
Moreover, the researchers discovered that certain justifications were more prevalent among specific subgroups. For example, older generations and rural populations were more likely to lean on the ‘necessary’ and ‘natural’ rationales, whereas younger, urban individuals exhibited more ambivalence, sometimes reporting internal conflict over meat consumption. This generational and geographical variance underscores the importance of targeted messaging for public health or environmental campaigns.
The study also highlights the psychological complexity involved in rationalizing meat consumption amidst increasing global pressures to reduce it. Cognitive dissonance theory helps explain how individuals may adjust their beliefs and attitudes to reduce the discomfort associated with recognizing meat’s negative consequences, such as animal suffering or environmental degradation, while continuing to consume it. The MEJ and 4Ns scales provide empirical tools to quantify this cognitive balancing act.
From a broader perspective, Sayat and Bozo’s work contributes to the growing interdisciplinary discourse involving psychology, culture, nutrition, and environmental studies. It provides a model for how culturally sensitive tools can enhance our understanding of food-related behaviors, which is vital for developing effective behavior change interventions that resonate on a cultural level.
Another key implication lies in policy formulation. By elucidating the culturally entrenched narratives supporting meat consumption, policymakers and activists can better tailor campaigns that either challenge or work within these narratives to promote sustainable dietary shifts. For instance, leveraging the ‘Nice’ justification—pleasure derived from taste—could be reframed in plant-based product development and marketing.
Technically, the study employed advanced psychometric techniques, including confirmatory factor analysis and multi-group invariance testing, to verify that the adapted scales maintained their structural integrity and were comparable across demographic partitions. Such rigorous validation ensures that subsequent research or interventions using these tools can rely on consistent and accurate measurement of meat-eating justifications.
What sets this study apart is its nuanced investigation into the socio-cultural embeddedness of food choices. In a world increasingly confronted with the urgent need for dietary transitions, understanding the justificatory frameworks people use is critical to designing interventions that are not only scientifically sound but culturally empathetic and politically feasible.
The researchers also discuss potential future directions, such as longitudinal studies to track how justifications evolve over time in response to social change, increased awareness, or policy shifts. Additionally, the intersection of meat-eating justifications with other identity factors such as religion, ethnicity, and social class could provide an even more comprehensive understanding.
In terms of methodology, this study exemplifies best practices in cultural adaptation and validation of psychological measurement tools. It demonstrates how combining qualitative insights—such as interviews and focus groups to understand local cultural meanings—with quantitative validation fortifies the credibility and applicability of the scales.
The timing of this publication aligns with global trends toward sustainable eating, rising interest in plant-based diets, and growing animal welfare advocacy. Thus, research such as Sayat and Bozo’s not only advances academic knowledge but has real-world relevance, potentially influencing consumer behavior and cultural norms within Türkiye and in similar socio-cultural settings.
In conclusion, the culturally tailored and empirically validated MEJ and 4Ns scales introduced by Sayat and Bozo open new vistas for researchers and practitioners aiming to decode and engage with the psychological and cultural dimensions of meat-eating. Their findings underscore the importance of integrating cultural sensitivity into psychological research and the pressing need to understand how cultural narratives shape fundamental aspects of human behavior such as diet.
As the world continues grappling with the environmental and ethical implications of meat consumption, this study provides a crucial lens to appreciate the deep-rooted beliefs that sustain it. By capturing these justifications in a culturally specific manner, the researchers offer a roadmap for designing interventions that align with local values, ultimately contributing to more effective promotion of sustainable dietary practices.
Subject of Research: Cultural adaptation and validation of psychological scales measuring meat-eating justifications in Türkiye, and their correlates.
Article Title: Meat-eating justifications in Türkiye: cultural adaptation, validation, and correlates of the MEJ and 4Ns scales.
Article References: Sayat, R.A., Bozo, Ö. Meat-eating justifications in Türkiye: cultural adaptation, validation, and correlates of the MEJ and 4Ns scales. BMC Psychol 13, 1177 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03490-6
Image Credits: AI Generated
