Vegetarians are not kinder than meat-eaters, according to research

They may be more sensitive to the suffering of but vegetarians are not necessarily kinder than meat-eaters, research suggests. A study that collected data from thousands of people about their diets and values found vegetarians were more likely to endorse values linked to independence and individuality than non-vegetarians.

However, they were less likely to value benevolence, which was defined as the "preservation and enhancement of the welfare of people with whom one is in frequent personal contact". Security and conformity were also significantly less important for vegetarians, as was tradition, although to a lesser extent.

Writing in the journal PLOS One, Professor John Nezlek, a social psychologist at SWPS University in Warsaw, , said he had expected vegetarians to value tradition and conformity less than non-vegetarians.

He explained: "Within most Western contexts, vegetarianism is not traditional, and so vegetarians should be less likely to endorse traditional values than omnivores, who follow a traditional diet.

"Also, vegetarians do not conform to the normative omnivorous diet, so they should endorse conformity values less strongly than omnivores."

Prof Nezlek added: "The present results suggest that although vegetarians may be more sensitive to the pain and suffering of animals and may be more aware of the threats to the than non-vegetarians, this sensitivity and awareness do not reflect basic human value of benevolence, at least [with the definition used].

"Moreover, the present results suggest that vegetarians hold values consistent with being members of a social minority who are willing to stand by their principles."

The study included data from three surveys, two in the and one in Poland.

The findings raise questions about how or if basic human values lead people to adopt vegetarian diets, Prof Nezlek added.

He said: "Perhaps people adopt vegetarian diets and then their values change."