Gender differences in meat-eating behavior and environmental attitudes – The mediating role of the Dark Triad

Recently, Machiavellianism was identified as potential mediator explaining gender differences in meat-eating justification strategies, which in turn predicted actual meat consumption. The current study aimed to – on the one hand – replicate this empirical finding and to – on the other hand – investigate the mediating role of the Dark Triad with regard to gender differences in pro-environmental attitudes. Five-hundred-forty-eight participants took part in the study. Women compared to men justified meat-eating less and held more positive attitudes toward the environment. More importantly, we replicated the finding that the association between gender and meat-eating justification strategies was mediated by Machiavellianism. Additionally, the association between gender and pro-environmental attitudes was mediated by psychopathy. These findings support the idea that while Machiavellianism is an important mediator explaining gender differences in meat-eating justification strategies, psychopathy is able to explain gender differences in attitudes toward the environment.