Melanie Joy, PhD, is a psychologist, international speaker, and social justice advocate. She is the award-winning author of seven books.
Latest by this author
To achieve justice for all species and the environment, we must create a more relational world.
Melanie Joy, PhD, is a psychologist specializing in the psychology of oppression, social transformation, and relationships. A longtime advocate for justice, she was a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, for 11 years, where she taught courses on privilege and oppression, feminist psychology, psychological trauma, and animal rights. Her work has helped explain why individuals and institutions engage in behaviors that harm other people, animals, the planet, and themselves—and how to change this pattern.
Her goal is to create a world where people interact in more caring and connected ways. She believes that both internal (psychological) and external (social) barriers prevent us from acting in our own and othersʼ best interests. By raising awareness of these barriers, Joy aims to help people think more freely, act with compassion, build better relationships, and contribute to a fairer, more sustainable world.
Joy is the award-winning author of seven books, including the bestselling Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows, Getting Relationships Right, and How to End Injustice Everywhere. Her work has been highlighted by major media outlets like the New York Times, BBC, NPR, and ABC Australia.
Joy has received prestigious awards for her efforts in promoting nonviolence, including the Ahimsa Award, which has also been given to leaders like the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela.
She is also an internationally recognized speaker and trainer who has presented her work in 50 countries across six continents. She is the founder and president of the international organization Beyond Carnism.
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Joy lives in Berlin, Germany, with her husband, Sebastian Joy.External
The Key to Ending Injustice? Being Good at Relationships, According to this Harvard-educated Psychologist
May | 2024
When we look at the various expressions of injustice in our world, such as brutal wars, fascist regimes, mass poverty, environmental degradation, and animal exploitation, we can see that they all share a common denominator: Relational dysfunction, or dysfunctional ways of relating.
A Review of “How to End Injustice Everywhere” by Dr. Melanie Joy
Co-authors: Michael Corthell | The Vegan Dispatch | January | 2024
Dr. Melanie Joyʼs How to End Injustice Everywhere is not just another social justice book. It's a tapestry woven with the threads of interconnectedness, revealing the common denominators driving oppression across various systems. Building on her expertise in Carnism, Joy expands her lens to encompass a broader spectrum of injustice, making this book a beacon for every advocate, activist, and changemaker.
Psychologist Dr Melanie Joy has been vegan since 1989. She explains why you can't be an ethical meat eater according to her theory of carnism
September | 2017
Have you ever wondered why you want to pet your cat, but the idea of grilling Tibbles and eating her in a brioche bun with a few lettuce leaves and relish turns your stomach? And why if Tibbles were a cow, she’d already be dead in your fridge and destined for your dinner plate?
You don’t have to choose between protecting yourself and protecting others.
May | 2024
When we can bear witness in a way that enables us to stay psychologically and emotionally safe, we can shift from being passive bystanders to active agents of change.
Meat alternatives are tearing down the idea that eating animals is normal, natural, and necessary.
November | 2020
In 1989, the social psychologist Melanie Joy became a vegetarian almost by accident. She ate a hamburger and became so ill that she couldn’t stomach the idea of eating meat again. So she set about learning new ways to cook for a meatless diet, reading cookbooks and doing research. In the process, she started to learn about the suffering of non-human animals, the suffering of workers on factory farms, and the environmental toll exacted by animal agriculture. This new knowledge shocked her.
A new fictional video has exposed the psychology of why climate advocates are often hesitant to address animal agriculture
September | 2022
A new fictional “news” video shows world leaders being tricked into eating kitten soup by a climate scientist.
Publications by this author
Understanding the Common Denominator Driving All Injustices
Lantern Publishing & Media | February | 2024
In this powerful book, psychologist Melanie Joy uncovers the shared mindset behind all forms of injustice. The way we harm and exploit people is connected to how we treat animals, the environment, and even those within our own groups who fight for justice.
How to End Injustice Everywhere explores how unjust systems and behaviors work. It also provides practical advice on how to understand these systems, reduce conflicts within justice movements, and create stronger, more effective efforts for change.
How to Build Resilience and Thrive in Life, Love, and Work
Berrett-Koehler Publishers | February | 2020
Relationships can be tricky. It’s surprising that while most of us have to learn complex subjects like geometry, which we might never use, we don’t get any formal lessons on how to relate to others. In this helpful guide, psychologist Melanie Joy explains the common psychological patterns that affect all types of relationships—whether with a romantic partner, friends, family, or coworkers. By understanding these patterns, you can make your relationships healthier and stronger.
Joy compares relationships to the human body: they get “sick” when their immune system is weaker than the stressors affecting them. Using the latest research and her own experience as a psychologist, Joy shows how to build a strong “relational immune system” that can handle not just personal conflicts but also hidden societal pressures like racism and sexism. By understanding this, you can create relationships that reflect core values and respect everyone involved. Healthy and resilient relationships not only bring happiness and fulfillment but also help the organizations and communities we belong to thrive.
An Introduction to Carnism
Co-authors: Yuval Noah Harari (foreword) | Red Wheel/Weiser | August | 2020
Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows is a fascinating book by social psychologist Melanie Joy that explores a concept she calls “carnism.” This belief system makes us think itʼs normal to eat certain animals, even though we would never consider eating others. Carnism leads to widespread animal suffering and global injustice, and it often makes us act in ways that arenʼt good for ourselves or others, even if we don't realize it. Understanding what carnism is and how it works is important because it helps us make more informed and free choices about the food we eat.
A Guide to Improving Relationships and Communication for Vegans, Vegetarians, and Meat Eaters
Co-authors: Kathy Freston (foreword) | Lantern Publishing & Media | March | 2018
Vegans, vegetarians, and meat eaters can sometimes feel like theyʼre living in completely different worlds. Many vegans and vegetarians often feel misunderstood and not respected in a society where eating meat is the norm. Their most cherished concerns and beliefs can be overlooked, and when they try to discuss them, they might face defensive reactions. This can lead to frustration and difficulty in connecting with meat eaters. On the other hand, meat eaters might feel distant from vegans and vegetarians because they don’t fully understand their beliefs, and the frustration of vegans and vegetarians might affect their interactions.
The good news is that the communication and relationship issues between vegans, vegetarians, and meat eaters don’t have to stay this way—they can be fixed. With the right tools, it’s possible to build, repair, and even strengthen healthy connections among people with different dietary choices.
Understanding and Discussing Privilege Among Vegans to Build a More Inclusive and Empowered Movement
Lantern Publishing & Media | March | 2020
The Vegan Matrix is a short guidebook that helps vegans and vegan organizations understand and talk about privilege, especially after the #MeToo movement. It covers how to create accountability while respecting everyone’s dignity and how to communicate effectively about these issues.
In this book, Dr. Melanie Joy, a psychologist and longtime vegan advocate, addresses a significant problem in the vegan movement—unrecognized privilege—and the difficulty of discussing it in a way that leads to positive change. Using simple and clear language, Joy explains what privilege is, why it’s crucial for vegans to be aware of it, and how to talk about it in a way that fosters understanding and transformation. She also highlights various types of privilege that need to be acknowledged and dealt with, and shows how increasing inclusivity and diversity within vegan organizations can strengthen the movement as a whole. The Vegan Matrix encourages vegans to become more aware and take action, helping to create a more compassionate and just world by reaching a wider audience.
Media by this author
Feature | September | 2023
Have you read Melanie Joy’s new book, “How to End Injustice Everywhere”? 📖 If not, watch the trailer to find out more! 📺
Feature | February | 2015
Melanie Joy on Carnism and other food choices.
Interview | July | 2018
Melanie Joy’s work applies to much more than how we eat: It’s a lens for thinking about all the systems we’re so deeply embedded in that we can no longer see them, and so we learn not to notice if they compel us to do things that don’t align with what we believe to be right, or who we actually want to be.
Feature | June | 2017
Dr. Melanie Joy explores the secret reason we eat meat.
Feature | August | 2021
In the Formula for a Better World video, Melanie Joy explains that relational dysfunction is the common denominator among all forms of abuse and oppression—including carnism. And so building relational literacy, the understanding of and ability to practice healthy ways of relating, is the common denominator in transforming all these problems.
Interview | November | 2023
Sentientist Conversations is a podcast that addresses two most important questions: “What’s real?” and “What matters?” Sentientism is “evidence, reason & compassion for all sentient beings.”
Feature | September | 2022
In shocking images obtained from the ECO27 summit, attendees are eating what they believe to be cream of chicken soup when renowned climate scientist Dr. Jay Kumari leaps to the podium and announces he’s swapped the chicken with kitten. Bryce Harding discusses the controversy with Dr. Melanie Joy, the world’s leading expert on the psychology of eating animals.
Interview | April | 2020
During my time in Berlin late last year, I had the honor of talking to Dr. Melanie Joy, a Harvard educated psychologist, public speaker and author who coined the term ‘carnism.’ Throughout our conversation we talk about handling divisions with non-vegan friends and family, as well as discussing how to create healthier and more effective communication habits for our vegan advocacy in general.
Feature | August | 2020
This man is eating a golden retriever burger, with cheese made from horse’s milk on a bun glazed with canary’s eggs.
Feature | May | 2021
According to a psychologist, what two words can you say to a vegan that can change everything? Watch to understand how to talk about carnism, veganism, and eating animals using effective communication. You can reduce defensiveness and avoid arguments and conflicts, and instead have productive conversations—whether you’re a vegan or nonvegan, whether you eat meat, eggs, and dairy or you don’t eat any animals.
Interview | November | 2023
We are thrilled to welcome back one of our favourite guests, Dr. Melanie Joy. Dr. Melanie Joy is a renowned psychologist and author, known for her groundbreaking work in the fields of relational literacy and the study of carnism.
Interview | August | 2022
In the season two finale of Just Beings, hosts Evanna Lynch and Melanie Joy talk about their experiences trying to change the food system, share lessons they’ve learned from this season’s amazing guests, and discuss what gives them hope for the future.
They also talk about the projects they’re working on, how they make time to slow down and be present, and the problems caused by infighting in social justice movements. Evanna even shares her thoughts on the controversies surrounding the Harry Potter franchise.
Interview | July | 2021
How vulnerability, integrity, and pride are crucial to relating to those around you as well as to choosing yourself with Dr. Melanie Joy, Harvard-educated psychologist and award-winning author of six books, including Getting Relationships Right: How to Build Resilience and Thrive in Life, Love, and Work.
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