Animal Ethics and Tourism: Deepening a Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) Framework

Abstract

Animal ethics has been recognized as an emerging issue in tourism, but limited research has concentrated on tourists’ behaviors toward animal ethics and its fundamental mechanisms. This study develops a research framework to address this gap, including media coverage and organizational strategies on reducing animal abuse, cognitive and affective states toward animal ethics, norm activation model variables, and behavioral intentions using stimulus–organism–response (S-O-R) theory. Findings indicate that media coverage and organizational strategies can be construed as underlying external stimulus constructs within the S-O-R model in the background of animal-related tourism. This study additionally shows the mediating nature of cognitive and affective states. Findings particularly indicate that personal norm is the focal influencing factor of tourists’ behavioral/word-of-mouth intentions toward animal ethics. This research contributes to reducing animal abuse and understanding the underlying theoretical mechanism linked to tourist behaviors and animal ethics.

Triggers for Reducing Waste and Disposable Packaging: Insights from Food Truck Consumers in Thailand

“…In line with Han (2014), awareness of consequences (AC) was found to positively affect ascription of responsibility (AR), and subsequently influenced moral norms (MN). These results strengthen and verify the NAM framework (Fakfare et al, 2024a), particularly in the food truck context. Furthermore, it was found that anticipated emotions, particularly in terms of feelings of pride were influenced by AC and AR.…”

“…In terms of practical implications, the contextualization of NAM constructs and their application within the sustainable food truck context offers valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers. Firstly, by understanding how moral norms, anticipated feelings of pride, and responsibility attribution influence consumer behaviors, food truck operators can tailor their strategies to promote sustainable practices effectively (Fakfare et al, 2024a). This may involve initiatives such as offering eco-friendly packaging options, implementing waste reduction measures, and communicating the environmental benefits of such actions to customers.…”

“…(1) identify the triggering factors of waste reduction intentions, and intentions to reduce disposable packaging based on the norm activation model, (2) unearth the necessary conditions that must be present for waste reduction, and intentions to reduce disposable packaging among food truck consumers. In addition to conducting net-effect analysis through composite-based Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), this research adopts necessity logic to identify the desired outcomes within the food truck industry (Dul, 2022;Fakfare et al, 2024a;. By employing necessity logic, the study aims to provide a deeper understanding of the factors that are essential for achieving specific outcomes in this context.…”