Dr Sarah Gradidge

[email protected]

Connect with Sarah on Linkedin

Research interests

Sarah is a member of our Societies Research Area, which forms part of the ARU Centre for Societies and Groups, as well as our Behavioural Ecology Research Group.

Sarah's research revolves around the idea of living in harmony with fellow animals and nature and enhancing our own and non-human animals’ wellbeing. Her research is mostly quantitative and falls across the subdisciplines of social psychology, positive psychology and human-animal studies (anthrozoology). She is interested in research regarding animals, climate change/climate action, nature, wellbeing and emotions. Sarah also has an interest in neurodiversity, especially the internal experience of neurodiverse people and their wellbeing.

Selected recent publications

Gradidge, S., Yap, W. M., Liem, A., & Dass, G. (2023). Taking on the “new normal”: Emerging psychologists' reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Humanities and Applied Social Sciences, 5(2), 144-157, doi.org/10.1108/JHASS-08-2022-0101

Gradidge, S., Alcañiz-Colomer, J., & Loughnan, S. (2023). Inhuman animals: Moving dehumanization into the domain of human-animal relations. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 50, 101249, doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2023.101249

Keyes, H., Gradidge, S., Gibson, N., Harvey, A. J., Roeloffs, S., Zawisza, M., & Forwood, S. E. (2022). Attending live sporting events predicts subjective wellbeing and reduces loneliness. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 989706. doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.989706

Gradidge, S., Zawisza, M., Harvey, A. J., & McDermott, D. T. (2022). Farmyard animal or best friend? Exploring predictors of dog vs. pig pet speciesism. People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 5(1), 11. docs.lib.purdue.edu/paij/vol5/iss1/11

Gradidge, S., Harvey, A. J., McDermott, D. T., & Zawisza, M. (2021b). Humankind’s best friend vs. humankind’s best food: Perceptions of identifiable dog vs. pig victims. Human-Animal Interactions, 2021. doi.org/10.1079/hai.2021.0010

Gradidge, S., Zawisza, M., Harvey, A. J. & McDermott, D. T., 2021. A structured literature review of the meat paradox. Social Psychological Bulletin, 16(3), 1-26.

Research grants

Harvey, A. J., Zawisza, M., Forwood, S. E., Gibson, N. H., Keyes, H., Roeloffs, S., Gradidge, S., & Webb, K., 2021. QR Surplus: £1.3k

Zawisza, M., & Gradidge, S., 2021. 2020-21 Mini-RA QR Fund: £1.5k

Gradidge, S., & Zawisza, M., 2021b. ARU PSS Research Financial Support: £500

Gradidge, S., Zawisza, M., 2021. ARU PSS Research Financial Support: £500.

Gradidge, S. Zawisza, M., 2020. ARU PSS Research Financial Support: £500.

Recent presentations and conferences

Conferences:

Gradidge, S., Zawisza, M., Harvey, A. J., & McDermott, D. T., 2021, Jul 19. The Effect of Species on Perceptions of Animals (Speciesism): Predictors and Causes. Paper presented at the 32nd International Congress of Psychology (ICP), online.

Gradidge, S., Zawisza, M., Harvey, A. J., & McDermott, D. T., 2021, Jun 30. The Effect of Species on Perceptions of Animals: Predictors and Causes. Paper presented at Animal Advocacy Conference (AAC), Zoom.

Gradidge, S., Zawisza, M., Harvey, A. J., & McDermott, D. T., 2021, Jun 15. Exploring Pet Speciesism. Poster presented at the ARU 15th Annual Student Research Conference, Microsoft Teams.

Gradidge, S., Zawisza, M., Harvey, A. J., & McDermott, D. T., 2021, Mar 5. Psychological Predictors and Causes of Speciesism: The Empirical Case of Dogs vs. Pigs. Paper presented at Anthrozoology as International Practice (AIP), online.

Gradidge, S., Zawisza, M., Harvey, A. J. & McDermott, D. T., 2020, Jul 21. Exploring Pet Speciesism. Paper presented at ARU School of Psychology and Sport Science (PSS) PhD Conference, Microsoft Teams.

Gradidge, S., Zawisza, M., Harvey, A. J. & McDermott, D. T., 2020, Jun 29. Exploring Pet Speciesism. Poster presented at the ARU 14th Annual Student Research Conference, Microsoft Teams.

Gradidge, S., Zawisza, M., Harvey, A. J. & McDermott, D. T., 2019. The influence of species on perceptions of animals. PhD Spring Mini-Conference, Anglia Ruskin University, April 2019.

Invited Talks:

Gradidge, S., Zawisza, M., Harvey, A. J. & McDermott, D. T., 2020, Feb 11. Exploring Speciesism. Invited talk presented at the University of Edinburgh Journal Club, Edinburgh, UK.

Public engagement:

Gradidge, S. & Zawisza, M., 2022. The psychology of veg*nism: Why people become, continue or give up being veg*n. The Vegan Society. Available at: https://www.vegansociety.com/get-involved/research/research-news/psychology-vegnism-why-people-become-continue-or-give-being-vegn

Gradidge, S. & Zawisza, M., 2022. How your brain wrestles with the ethics of eating animals. The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/the-meat-paradox-how-your-brain-wrestles-with-the-ethics-of-eating-animals-175683

Gradidge, S. & Zawisza, M., 2021. Different types of speciesism. The Psychologist. Available at: https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-34/february-2021/different-kind-speciesism

Zawisza, M., Gradidge, S., Cornwell, E., Kelly, L., Stefanello, P., & Volpicelli, I., 2021, Sep 9. How Gender is Shaping the Pandemic. Paper presented at British Science Festival, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, UK.

Gradidge, S., Zawisza, M., Harvey, A. J. & McDermott, D. T., 2021, Jan 7. The psychology of veg*nism vs. non-veg*nism: Implications for climate change and the human-animal relationship. Paper presented as part of ARU Public Engagement, Microsoft Teams. 

Panel Talks:

Zawisza-Riley, M., Gradidge, S., Roeloffs, S., Keyes, H., Gibson, N. H., & Harvey, A. J., 2021, May 19. Society Going Viral! The Hidden Psychology of Pandemics Across Time and Contexts. Panel talk presented as part of ARU public engagement.

Zawisza-Riley, M., Gibson, N., Gradidge, S., & Roeloffs, S., 2020, Sep 16. Society Going Viral! The Hidden Psychology of Pandemics Across Time and Contexts. Panel talk presented as part of ARU Public Engagement, ARU, Cambridge, UK.

Publicity:

Brehaut, L., 2022. The 'meat paradox': Why people can love animals — and eat them. National Post. Available at: https://nationalpost.com/life/food/the-meat-paradox-why-people-can-love-animals-and-eat-them

Gregson, R. & Piazza, J., 2022. Student showcase: Sarah Gradidge. PHAIR Society. Available at: https://phairsociety.org/2022/01/23/student-showcase-sarah-gradidge/

Mackenzie, R., 2021. Why the meat paradox causes cognitive dissonance for millions of people. Technology Networks. Available at: https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/articles/why-the-meat-paradox-leads-to-cognitive-dissonance-for-millions-of-people-356334

Herr, O., 2021. How performative masculinity has played a role in the COVID-19 pandemic. British Science Association. Available at: https://www.britishscienceassociation.org/blog/how-performative-masculinity-has-played-a-role-in-the-covid-19-pandemic