The Vegan Dystopia: Understanding the Psychosocial Experience of Vystopia

Abstract

While most often explored in fictional contexts, the ability to imagine alternative worlds (i.e., utopias and dystopias) may play a critical role in shaping human morality, justice, and social change. In the present study, we investigated ‘Vystopia’ a form of dystopian thought experienced by ethical vegans. To examine the psychosocial characteristics of vystopic vegans, we used a battery of computerized text analytic tools to analyse both behavioural and linguistic data from the r/Vystopia Reddit community (N_posts = 14,542). Several themes emerged as characteristic of vystopic discourse, including strained interpersonal relationships, philosophical pessimism, animal commodification confrontation and systemic carnism. Relative to controls, vystopic vegans used significantly more linguistic references to morality, negative emotion, mental health, and death. Taken together, our findings highlight the psychosocial consequences of dystopian worldviews, while also underscoring their adaptive potential to inspire moral reflection. This research offers foundational insights into how dystopian thinking and ethical identities intersect.