The Social Representations of Zoo Goers toward Crocodiles and Turtles: Structural Analysis and Implications for Conservation

João Neves (), Jean-Christophe Giger, Vasco Alves and Joana Almeida
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João Neves: Department of Science and Education, Zoomarine Algarve, 8201-864 Albufeira, Portugal
Jean-Christophe Giger: Psychology Research Centre (CIP), Faculdade Ciências Humanas e Sociais, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Vasco Alves: Department of Science and Education, Zoomarine Algarve, 8201-864 Albufeira, Portugal
Joana Almeida: Department of Science and Education, Zoomarine Algarve, 8201-864 Albufeira, Portugal

Social Sciences, 2022, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: Zoos have changed dramatically over the last century and today attract millions of people worldwide, being places where visitors can closely watch wildlife and learn about the species on display. Although present at most zoos, reptiles are challenging animals in terms of visitor interest and engagement, as some species do not fit aesthetic standards from the human standpoint, have culturally negative perceptions or generate aversive emotions. By studying zoo visitors’ social representations of crocodiles and turtles, we aimed to detail their structures, as well as identifying their prototypical elements that help to understand their emotional and cognitive framing. The findings show the crocodile’s prototypical image as a big, fearsome predator with teeth as its main physical attribute. Male visitors showed a more emotional perception of this animal. The turtle’s prototypical image is a slow, hard-shelled ancestral sea animal with a neutral-to-positive set of traits, with no particular differences between genders. Our results shed a more detailed light on some of the social constructs that make up the mental images of these animals, which can help the zoological community direct communication toward a more fluent conversation between stakeholders toward conservation.

Keywords: social representations; turtles; crocodiles; prototype; conservation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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