Animal welfare and human benefit: Rationale expansion as strategy in the Anti-Vivisection campaign

Abstract

Research in the construction of social problems examines claims-making activity as groups attempt to define conditions as problems. Previous research on domain expansion documents how established claims become the foundation for new sets of concerns. In the campaign for the rights of laboratory animals, groups attempting to construct these conditions as problems do not solely rely on cruelty rhetoric for moving the public and lawmakers to action. Realizing the culture does not provide inherent sympathy for these animals, groups attempt to link their concern to other rationales, threat to humans and waste of taxpayers' money, for supporting a desired outcome.