Towards veganism. An affect theory approach to vegan trajectories thought life stories

Abstract

This paper examines the beginning of vegan life trajectories using Ahmed’s perspective on emotions. We aim to understand how emotions work in the path to veganism. We analyzed biographic interviews, specifically stories about catalytic experiences and moments of contact with animals during childhood. In both kinds of experiences, feelings of fear, disgust and love are intertwined and are driving force behind distancing, drawing closer, identification and alterization processes that shapes the lives and social relations of the participants. We claim that catalytic experiences are entanglements of emotion, cognition and sensation where self awareness and a quest for congruence occur. We also claim that the path to veganism is made of contacts and impressions that leave traces on the bodies and resonate in the trajectories.