4Ns Scale

(The Principal Justifications for Eating Meat)

Natural

1. It is only natural to eat meat.

2. It is unnatural to eat an all plant-based diet.

3. Our human ancestors ate meat all the time.

4. Human beings are natural meat-eaters – we naturally crave meat.

Necessary

1. It is necessary to eat meat in order to be healthy.

2. You cannot get all the protein, vitamins, and minerals you need on an all plant-based diet.

3. Human beings need to eat meat.

4. A healthy diet requires at least some meat.

Normal

1. Not eating meat is socially unacceptable.

2. It is abnormal for humans not to eat meat.

3. Most people I know eat meat.

4. It is normal to eat meat.

Nice

1. Meat is delicious.

2. Meat adds so much flavor to a meal it does not make sense to leave it out.

3. The best tasting food is normally a meat-based dish (e.g., steak, chicken breast, grilled fish).

4. Meals without meat would just be bland and boring.

Instructions for scale use

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about meat?

Strongly disagree; Moderately disagree; Somewhat disagree; Neither agree nor disagree; Somewhat agree; Moderately agree; Strongly agree

Scale Info

See our paper tilted Rationalizing Meat Eating: The 4Ns with a series of studies validating the scale.

Scale developed by Steve Loughnan¹, Jared Piazza², and Hanne Watkins (May, 2012). ¹University of Edinburgh. ²Lancaster University.

The first 3Ns (Natural, Necessary, Normal) are discussed by Melanie Joy in her book Why we love dogs, eat pigs, and wear cows: An introduction to carnism.

Link to: German version of 4N Scale

Also available upon request versions in French, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai