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Meat-based diets are still the norm, and vegans and vegetarians represent only a small minority of the population. A transition, respectively, behavioural change towards a diet with less meat can only occur by adopting a positive attitude towards dietary changes based on reasons and motivations. The main aim of this study is to apply the meat attachment scale (MEAS) in Germany in order to analyse if this construct is a barrier towards a diet with less meat in this country. For this purpose, the impact of meat attachment on the trust in different protein alternatives (plant-based, insects, cultured meat) and related food processing technologies is analysed. The findings reveal that a high level of meat attachment goes along with lower trust in plant-based proteins. Similar holds for cultured meat and insect proteins. Thus it appears that, at least for the moment, cultured meat or proteins from insects are not a logical substitute for the heavily meat attached consumer. Furthermore, in the analysis, we considered if meat attachment as measured by the MEAS is correlated with other scales/preferences such as food neophobia, social trust, and attitude towards respective preference for organic products. Literature shows that all mentioned constructs impact the acceptance, preference or trust in more sustainable food product innovation, respectively, more sustainable food processing techniques. The outcome of the correlation analysis demonstrated that in particular food neophobia and meat attachment are not correlated with each other. That is, the MEAS represents a predictor for trust in food (processing) technologies as e.g. plant-based proteins or cultured meat that is independent of the neophobia construct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the selected cases of the biographies of right-wing supporters from a larger sample of narrative interviews with young (18-35 years old) people in Poland and Germany. In the existing literature, we can find the socio-economic explanations of the sources of the right-wing turn (related to economic deprivation, precarisation, social exclusion, labor market competition with immigrants and others), as well as cultural explanations connected with new identity politics, symbolic exclusion and divide between society and political elites, the disembedding from previously solid communities, and the fear of new risks related to the inflow of cultural Others. Despite notable exceptions, it is rather uncommon to discuss in this context the actual biographical experiences of right-wing and far-right supporters. In the article, we take a closer look at four biographical cases of people declaring their political support for far right parties. The analysis of the cases leads to the distinction of socio-economic and socio-political pathways to right-wing populist support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the aftermath of the Nazi era and the Second World War the 'Bloodlands' of Eastern Europe including Germany were left with a pervasive and significant loss of empathy. Robi Friedman speaks of the 'Soldier's Matrix' (2015), in which dehumanizing dissociation increases, and empathy, guilt and shame disappear. In the GDR (German Democratic Republic)—under totalitarian and authoritarian conditions—this state of emotional deficit persisted for longer than in the Federal Republic (BRD). Gradually, but only after reunification, could change in the whole of Germany become possible. In the following text I will review the fragmented state of psychoanalysis in the battered city of Berlin after the Second World War. I describe the predicament of psychoanalysts, who are hopelessly entangled in adaptation processes, fearing the new rulers and dreading their own conscience. Despite their weakened sense of courage, they were however able to create space for freedom of thought. I intend to convey the trajectory of that process. The GDR history, despite the experience of confinement, is also a story of opening. Specific developments within the borders enabled the preservation as well as the transportation of psychoanalytic thought: some examples can be seen in inpatient forms of psychotherapy, individual psychodynamic therapy and especially the Intended Dynamic Group Psychotherapy (IDG). The opening of the 'Wall' made profound psychoanalytic post-qualification possible, but it came at a cost to the specific developments of the health system in the East. Within this system group therapists took their own particular path. After several years of cautious rapprochement the founding of BIG (Berlin Institute for Group Analysis) could be negotiated and established in 2003, supported by all Institutes of Berlin belonging to the umbrella organization of the DGPT (German Society for Psychoanalyse, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatic). Nine years later the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gruppenanalyse und Gruppenpsychotherapie (D3G) consolidated in the merger of several individual groups resulting in a continuous and refreshingly pluralistic cooperation today. This article will therefore describe a series of societal shifts, transitions, internal and external attempts to heal, that are well reflected within the parallel process visible in the development of group analysis and its practitioners. One example to consider would be the asymmetry between psychoanalytic 'teachers' (West) and 'students' (East) and the dynamics experienced during professional encounters, which were very particular and rather complicated. However, that is a chapter in itself and will be considered separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Information effects for text and images of cultivated meat did not significantly differ. • Evaluations of 727 German consumers were assessed using quantile regression. • Food technology neophobia was the only significant factor across all quantiles. • Inferences for quantile regression were markedly different from those for linear regression. Discussions and images of cultivated meat are increasingly common in popular media, often stressing highly technical aspects. Despite growing research on cultivated meat, the importance of information provision in specific, little is known about the influence of images on consumer attitudes and evaluations. Using a representative sample of 727 potential consumers in Germany, the current research employed an experimental survey with a between-subjects design, where participants received information about cultivated meat and its prospective benefits together with (a) no images, (b) images presenting meat in a more familiar form, or (c) images with a laboratory focus. Logistic quantile regression is employed for the first time to assess how determinants of consumer evaluations vary depending on one's intention to try and consume cultivated meat. The results underscore the key role of food technology neophobia as a determinant of consumer evaluations. Moreover, our findings help to clarify why individuals are likely to accept (and not just reject) cultivated meat as well as suggest the potential for misleading inferences when relying on linear regression for analyzing issues of consumer acceptance, behavioral intentions, and the like. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food neophobia (FN) is described as the rejection to eat unknown foods. Because only little is known about the role of FN in adolescence the aim of this study was to examine potential determinants of FN and associations with dietary habits of DONALD study participants. FN was measured with Pliner's and Hobden's Food Neophobia Scale (FN Score (FNS): range 10-70) in 166 10-18-year-old adolescents. Participants' age, sex, body weight status and duration of breast-feeding as well as parents' FN and educational status were considered as determinants. Energy intake, distribution of macronutrients and two variety scores were calculated from 3-day weighed dietary records. Multivariable general linear models were performed for data analyses. Boys and girls did not differ in their FNS (median (Min-Max): boys 31 (10-58), girls 32 (14-59)). Increasing age (p = 0.010) and duration of total breast-feeding (p = 0.006) were associated with decreasing FNS in girls only. FN was further positively associated with parental FN in the total sample (p = 0.004). FN was negatively associated with protein intake in the total sample (p = 0.017). The overall low level of FN in the DONALD study can be ascribed to the low level of FN in adolescence in general. Congruently with other studies, age and breast-feeding duration were identified as determinants of girls' FN and parental FN was identified as determinant of FN in the total sample. Further, our results indicate that FN leads to reduced protein intakes. Dietary variety was not strongly affected, possibly because of a broad variety of food supply in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The VARSEEK's unidimensionality was supported for its German version by EFA and CFA. • The German VARSEEK has adequate internal consistency and test–retest reliability. • The German VARSEEK shows adequate convergent validity. • The German VARSEEK is suitable for assessing food neophilia in Germany. As part of a healthy diet, guidelines recommend eating a variety of foods to reduce risks associated with malnutrition. However, whether people follow this recommendation substantially depends on their willingness to try unfamiliar foods, also referred to as food neophilia. This study aimed at comprehensively validating the German version of the Variety Seeking Tendency Scale (VARSEEK), a common instrument to assess food neophilia. Two independent sub-studies were conducted to examine the German VARSEEK's psychometric properties. Study 1 (N = 532, aged 18–91 years) and Study 2 (N = 468, aged 18–73 years) each comprised a German community sample. Data were collected both online and via a paper–pencil version. Whereas Study 1 included an EFA, Study 2 comprised a CFA, analyses of the VARSEEK's reliability and construct validity, and different explorative group comparisons. EFA and CFA results supported the original scale's unidimensionality. Internal consistency (α =.93) and test-retest reliability (r =.87) of the scale were high. VARSEEK scores were positively associated with openness, sensation seeking, and extraversion and negatively associated with food neophobia, general neophobia, and trait anxiety. Construct validity was further established by showing positive associations with ratings of familiarity with and willingness to try familiar and unfamiliar foods. Whereas group comparisons revealed no significant differences for sex, age, and weight status, analyses showed that people who belonged to the upper class were more food neophilic than those assigned to the lower and middle class. Findings further underscore that the German VARSEEK is a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of food neophilia in the German population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultured meat is a novel food technology that promises to produce meat in a more environmentally friendly and animal-friendly way. We conducted an internet survey in ten countries (Australia, China, England, France, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and the US) with a total sample of 6128 participants. Results suggest that there are large cultural differences regarding the acceptance of cultured meat. French consumers were significantly less accepting of the idea than consumers in all other countries. Perceived naturalness of and disgust evoked by cultured meat were important factors in the acceptance of this novel food technology in all countries. Trust in the food industry, food neophobia and food disgust sensitivity indirectly and directly influenced the acceptance of cultured meat in almost all countries. In order to increase the acceptance of cultured meat, the similarity of cultured meat to traditional meat needs to be emphasized rather than the rather technical production process, which may evoke associations of unnaturalness and disgust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Quantitative investigation of the willingness to consume insects and cultured meat. • First investigation with German children and adolescents on this topic. • Acceptance for cultured meat higher than for insects. • Attitude identified as the strongest predictor for the acceptance of both meat alternatives. • Food disgust did not influence the acceptance of the two meat alternatives. The present study examined the willingness of children and adolescents (N = 718, M Age = 13.67, SD = 2.31; female = 57.5%) from Germany to consume insects and cultured meat. One focus of the study was the comparison of attitudes toward foods made from insects and cultured meat in general and in a specific form (a burger). Another focus was analyzing the influence of selected nutritional-psychological factors on the willingness of children and adolescents to consume these products. In addition to sociodemographic factors (age, sex), meat consumption, familiarity, attitudes, food neophobia, and food disgust were included as variables. The study participants showed a significantly higher willingness to consume the cultured meat burger than the insect burger, although no difference could be shown in their attitudes toward the alternatives as food (i.e., irrespective of their form of preparation). Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that the attitude toward the alternative protein product in burger form, specifically, was the strongest predictor for the willingness to consume both burger alternatives. This illustrates that the attitudes of children and adolescents toward a particular product are especially important. The negative influence of food neophobia on the willingness to consume the meat alternatives, which had previously been reported in other studies, was confirmed in this study. In the regression model with the sociodemographic variables, food disgust showed a negative influence on the willingness to consume the two meat alternatives; however, this negative influence was not detected after including the nutritional-psychological variables in the model. Proposals for the use of the results of this study in designing marketing strategies and educational interventions in schools are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential use of insects as a novel food source has recently attracted a great deal of attention in Europe, as they have many environmental and nutritional advantages and thus present a promising and sustainable animal protein source. Yet despite insects being a highly appreciated food in many parts of the world, consumer aversion remains as the major barrier to successful implementation in Europe. This study examines prospects of edible whole insect and processed insect-based food in Germany and investigates determining factors for acceptance. It does so to better understand consumers' attitudes toward insects and to derive approaches for insect food to become more appreciated. An online survey was conducted within the German population with a final sample of 393 participants. Several explanatory variables were established, and their influence on the acceptance of whole and processed insect products was analyzed by applying ordinal regressions to compare the market potential and hurdles of either option. The main results show a low willingness to try insects among Germans and the prevalence of psychological and personality barriers to consumption, such as disgust and food neophobia. Focusing on processed insect products is shown to be the most promising strategy to implement entomophagy, as an essential barrier to consumption is the visibility of the insects. However, whether this strategy would diminish the rejection of any insect product requires further investigation. Unlabelled Image • This study aims to investigate key factors for acceptance of insects as food. • We differentiate the acceptance of whole and processed insect-based products. • An ordinal regression is implemented based on an online survey dataset. • Prevalence of barriers to consumption such as disgust and food neophobia • Processed insects should be implemented into familiar food items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]