Signs Of Change Within The Animal Rights Movement

This research is a follow up study to the 1990 attitude survey of 402 animal rights activists attending a national march in Washington, D.C. and compares the results.

Between 1990 and 1996, the surveys suggest that a major shift took place with respect to animal rights activists; in 1990 activists considered animal research as the most important animal issue, in contrast to the 1996 survey which identified animal agriculture as the most important issue.

The 1996 survey also measured a decline in support for laboratory break-ins and found that the majority supported a 10 point proposal to reduce tensions between activists and researchers.

In 1990, animals in research were considered the most important issue by 54% of activists, while animal agriculture was specified by 24%. In 1996, 38% considered animals used in research as most important, while 48% considered animals used for food as most important.

The 1996 survey also asked activists which type of animal use inflicts the largest amount of suffering each year. The answers were animal agriculture (60%), animal research (34%), hunting (3%), other (3%).

Top priority by demographic variable (top priority animal agriculture, top priority animal research):

• Female (69%, 84%)
• Male (31%, 16%)
• 18-40 years (61%, 46%)
• 40+ years (39%, 54%)
• Non-vegetarians/semi-vegetarians (12%, 46%)
• Vegetarian (35%, 31%)
• Vegan (53%, 23%)
• Buy leather products (19%, 47%)
• Do not buy leather products (81%, 53%)
• Believes that typical animal researcher does not care about animals (75%, 85%)
• Believes typical animal researcher cares about animals (17%, 7%)
• Is unsure about typical animal researcher’s concern for animals (8%, 7%)
• Believes most suffering is caused by animal agriculture (87%, 27%)
• Believes most suffering is caused by animal research (8%, 63%)
• Believes that most suffering is caused by others (5%, 10%)

Comparing 1990 and 1996 activist attitudes toward animal research (1990,1996):

Animal activists opinion on animal researchers and researchers concern for animals-

• Would like all animal research eliminated (85%, 90%)
• Believes typical animal researcher does not care about animals (81%, 76%)
• Believes typical researcher cares about animals (12%, 15%)
• Not sure about typical researcher concern (7%, 9%)

Field of research which yields more useful info –

• Medical (24%, 18%)
• Psychological/behavioral (2%, 2%)
• Both yield equally useful info (2%, 2%)
• Neither yields useful info (62%, 63%)
• Not sure (11%, 16%)

Which research causes more animal suffering?

• Medical (13%, 20%)
• Psychological/behavioral (16%, 9%)
• Equal amount of suffering (68%, 62%)
• Neither causes suffering (0%, 0%)
• Not sure (3%, 8%)

Whether Laboratory break-ins are effective?

• Believes laboratory break-ins are effective (56%, 48%)
• Personally favors break-ins (61%, 55%)