The Importance Of Vested Interest Theory

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Recommended: Negative effects of eating meat or animals

Section A: Issue Description
In 2014, Arizona State University (ASU) set an al-time record high for student enrollment, accepting nearly 82,000 students. Being the largest public university in the United States, every member of the ASU community is a key stakeholder in Meatless Monday’s. This includes ASU faculty, staff, students and visitors. By adopting Meatless Monday’s, you could strengthen your body, mind and ultimately help keep the planet more sustainable. Since everyone has to eat, everyone is affected by this matter. The ASU community has the power to make difference, but only you can make the change.
Cutting out meat, even just once a week can dramatically improve your health. According to a Harvard University study, eating without …show more content…

The vested interest theory could explain this conundrum. According to Attitude Strength: Antecedents and Consequences written by authors Petty and Krosnick, “vested interest theory is concerned with hedonically relevant attitude objects” (1995). In other words, vested interest theory gauges how relevant and meaningful something is to someone. If a person has a high level of vested interest, they are very committed and involved in that particular matter. Likewise, a person with a low level of vested interest is less involved. Vested interest theory is founded on three key principles: involvement, ego-involvement and attitude importance. Ego-involvement pertains to an individual’s psychological attitudes. It determines how emotionally connected an individual to an idea, concept or value. Attitude importance determines the level to which a person deems something meaningful (Petty & Krosnick …show more content…

A growing body of evidence suggests that healthy thinking and behavior is synchronized to the week, with Monday being the day people are most “open to buy” health. Monday can thus be a powerful leverage point in public health promotions to help people stay on track with their health goals.
Another component of the vested interest theory is ego involvement and stake. We propose the idea of branching off and trying something different with phrases like “Just try it!” or “You’ll feel better!”, “What do you have to lose?”, “You can even brag to your meat eating friends how you went meatless on Monday!” We expect to see positive reactions.
“Meat consumption is a part of our evolutionary heritage; meat production has been a major component of modern food systems; carnivory should remain, within limits” (Smil 2013). The keywords within this quote are “within limits.” Just like with anything else, moderation is key. Meatless Monday’s are not about giving up meat forever, just once a week. Going meatless on Monday’s is more than an attitude change, it’s a behavioral change. So, why not start the week off on a good note by going meatless on Monday’s?
Section D:

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