The development of humans’ moral views of other animals

Humans’ moral views of animals vary in important ways across development. In many cases, adults display anthropocentric moral judgments that relate to the exploitation of animals as a resource. In contrast, children appear to have a more inclusive perspective regarding animals. In this article, we review and synthesize studies examining differences in how children, adolescents, and adults make moral judgments about animals. We consider how both cultural and individual differences may relate to this developmental trajectory.

Recommended citation: McGuire, L., Piazza, J., Faber, N. S., Libel, K., Wilks, M. (2026). The development of humans' moral views of other animals. Child Development Perspectives.
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