We are human, they are not: Driving forces behind outgroup dehumanisation and the humanisation of the ingroup

Mostly invigorated by infrahumanisation theory, our knowledge on processes of dehumanisation in intergroup relations has grown considerably in the last decade. Building on these earlier endeavours, the present chapter reviews some recent empirical extensions that highlight the importance of differentiating between ingroup humanisation and outgroup dehumanisation because they are often moderated by specific variables. The role of these separate processes is discussed as a function of the main structural elements that define intergroup behaviour; that is, the defining boundaries of the groups, the relation between the groups at hand, and the ideologies of its members. Finally, the role of the different senses of humanness is discussed, suggesting that the folk conception of humanness differs between cultures

Materialist and Post-Materialist Concerns and the Wish for a Strong Leader in 27 Countries

There is evidence that democracies are under threat around the world while the quest for strong leaders is increasing. Although the causes of these developments are complex and multifaceted, here we focus on one factor: the extent to which citizens express materialist and post-materialist concerns. We explore whether objective higher levels of democracy are differentially associated with materialist and post-materialist concerns and, in turn, whether this is related to the wish for a strong leader. Testing this hypothesis across 27 countries (N = 5,741) demonstrated a direct negative effect of democracies' development on the wish for a strong leader. Further, multi-level mediation analysis showed that the relation between the Democracy Index and the wish for a strong leader was mediated by materialist concerns. This pattern of results suggests that lower levels of democracy are associated with enhanced concerns about basic needs and this is linked to greater support for strong leaders.Peer reviewe

Materialist and Post-Materialist Concerns and the Wish for a Strong Leader in 27 Countries

There is evidence that democracies are under threat around the world while the quest for strong leaders is increasing. Although the causes of these developments are complex and multifaceted, here we focus on one factor: the extent to which citizens express materialist and post-materialist concerns. We explore whether objective higher levels of democracy are differentially associated with materialist and post-materialist concerns and, in turn, whether this is related to the wish for a strong leader. Testing this hypothesis across 27 countries (N = 5,741) demonstrated a direct negative effect of democracies' development on the wish for a strong leader. Further, multi-level mediation analysis showed that the relation between the Democracy Index and the wish for a strong leader was mediated by materialist concerns. This pattern of results suggests that lower levels of democracy are associated with enhanced concerns about basic needs and this is linked to greater support for strong leaders.Peer reviewe

De-umanizzazione (e umanizzazione) nelle relazioni intergruppi. La prospettiva della psicologia sociale sperimentale

De-humanization (and Humanization) in Intergroup Relations: The Perspective of Experimental Social Psychology - History, even in its more recent years, offers many examples of the denial of full humanity to a social group and its members. Nevertheless this phenomenon has only recently attracted the attention and the interest of empirical research in social psychology. In the current contribution we present the state of the art of the research on processes of de-humanization and humanization in intergroup relations. Particularly the present review covers the followings topics: conceptions and operationalizations of humanness and de-humanization used in empirical research; the main variables in intergroup relations that may influence, fostering or reducing, the acknowledgement of a group’s full humanity; de-humanization between gender groups and on the basis of people’s sexual orientation; functions of de-humanization and ingroup humanization in intergroup relations

Social acceptability of sexist derogatory and sexist objectifying slurs across contexts

In one study, we investigated how Italian men and women generally evaluate and socially accept two classes of sexist slurs, namely Sexist Derogatory Slurs (e.g., bitch) and Sexist Objectifying Slurs (e.g., hot chick). Moreover, we examined whether social acceptability of these classes of slurs change across different types of relationships (i.e., work-related context or affective relationship) and as a function of the gender of the user (i.e., man or woman). Results showed that Sexist Derogatory Slurs were rated as more offensive and less socially acceptable than Sexist Objectifying Slurs. Moreover, in an affective relationship the latter were more acceptable than the former. In the working-relationship, Sexist Derogatory Slurs were always unacceptable whereas Sexist Objectifying Slurs were less acceptable when used by a man than a woman

Blurring human–machine distinctions: Anthropomorphic appearance in social robots as a threat to human distinctiveness

Ferrari F, Paladino MP, Jetten J. Blurring human–machine distinctions: Anthropomorphic appearance in social robots as a threat to human distinctiveness. International Journal of Social Robotics. 2016;8(2):287-302

Transcending oneself through social identification

This brief survey of life strategies suggests that a recurrent theme in human beings' struggle with the unbearable finitude of being is the reliance on a community, be it local or imagined. In this chapter we elaborate on this thesis from a social psychological perspective and argue that affiliation to and, more crucially, identification with social groups is ranked high in the repertoire of strategies that human beings use to transcend themselves. Specifically, we contend that through social identification, individuals expand their sense of self in space and time, thus participating in a larger, immaterial, and therefore immortal entity. The development of these ideas is grounded in social identity theory and terror management theory. We begin by outlining the main concepts of these theoretical perspectives before presenting some empirical evidence in support of our thesis

Peut-on vivre sans stéréotypes sur autrui?

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