From infra-humanization to discrimination: The mediation of symbolic threat needs egalitarian norms

Pereira, Cí­cero Roberto; Vala, Jorge; Leyens, Jacques‐Philippe

doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2008.10.010

Cited by 117 publications

(142 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Whereas ''Infra-humanization is not linked to things that people can loose [sic] or gain (money, jobs)'' (Leyens & Demoulin, 2009, p. 212), symbolic threats are conceptually relevant to infrahumanization because they emphasize intergroup differences in characteristics considered unique to humans (e.g., religion, language, culture, and morality, see also Leyens & Demoulin, 2009). In research by Pereira, Vala, and Leyens (2009), manipulations of outgroup infra-humanization increased perceptions of symbolic threat posed by that group. As noted by Simonton (1982), the manipulation of one variable to demonstrate causal effects on the other does not preclude the reverse pattern of causality.…”

Section: Moderated Mediationmentioning

confidence: 98%

Social dominance‐based threat reactions to immigrants in need of assistance

Costello¹,

Hodson²

2011

Euro J Social Psych

113

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The present investigation examined how individuals higher in social dominance orientation (SDO) react to experimentally induced intergroup threat in terms of support for helping immigrants. Participants read editorials describing an incoming immigrant outgroup posing realistic threats (to tangible resources and well-being), symbolic threats (to values and traditions) or no threats. Participants higher in SDO exhibited greater resistance to helping immigrants upon exposure to realistic, symbolic, (Experiments 1 and 2), or combined realistic-symbolic (Experiment 2) intergroup threats, but not when the same immigrants posed no threats. In Experiment 2, SDO exerted indirect effects on modern prejudice through both heightened infra-humanization and intergroup anxiety, with modern prejudice itself predicting greater resistance and indifference to helping immigrants. Moderated mediation analyses revealed strongest SDO-infra-humanization relations under conditions of symbolic threat. Implications for prejudice-reduction interventions are considered. Copyright # 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Despite increasing immigration rates, broadening immigration policies, and acclaimed preferences for multiculturalism, immigrants continue to face resistance by host societies (Reitz & Banerjee, 2007). Discrimination clearly affects the ability for immigrants to integrate successfully, creating a pressing need for research on the acceptance and integration of immigrants into host societies. In the present investigation, we explore how person and situational factors affect the willingness of host society members to help an incoming immigrant group.Ideological orientations that maintain intergroup status differentials are particularly relevant to this discussion. According to Social Dominance Theory (SDT), human societies are naturally characterized by hierarchical power structures, with dominant social groups motivated to endorse ideologies justifying intergroup hierarchies and social inequality (Pratto, Sidanius, Stallworth, & Malle, 1994). Central to SDT are broad hierarchy-enhancing myths, such as prejudice (e.g., racism, sexism), that serve to legitimize the subordination and discrimination of groups lower in the social hierarchy (Sidanius & Pratto, 1999). Within the broader SDT framework, social dominance orientation (SDO) represents an ideological orientation toward intergroup dominance that differs among individuals. Those higher in SDO see the world as a ''competitive jungle '' (Duckitt, Wagner, du Plessis, & Birum, 2002) perceiving outgroups as sources of threat (Esses, Hodson, & Dovidio, 2003). SDO is one of the most potent individual difference predictors of prejudice (Altemeyer, 1998;Sidanius & Pratto, 1999), particularly toward ''inferior'' outgroups seeking higher status (Duckitt, 2006). Relevant to the present context, heightened SDO predicts negative attitudes toward immigrants (Costello & Hodson, 2010;Hodson & Costello, 2007), and favorable attitudes toward policies stressing dominance over immigrants (Pratto & ...

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Section: Moderated Mediationmentioning

confidence: 98%

Social dominance‐based threat reactions to immigrants in need of assistance

Costello¹,

Hodson²

2011

Euro J Social Psych

113

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“…Power (Miranda, Vaes, et al, 2010) . Outgroup threat (Castano & Giner-Sorola, 2006;Cehajic et al, 2009;Cuddy et al, 2007;Delgado et al, 2009;Pereira et al, 2009;Tam et al, 2007;Zebel et al, 2008) . Social dominance orientation (Esses et al, 2008;Hodson & Costello, 2007;Leidner et al, 2010) .…”

Section: Moderators Of Outgroup Dehumanisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Manipulating the humanity of a disliked outgroup, Pereira, Vala, and Leyens (2009) showed that people were more willing to discriminate against a less human outgroup. Moreover, perceptions of symbolic threat were shown to mediate this relationship in such a way that symbolic threat justified the discrimination of the outgroup.…”

Section: Vaes Et Almentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Vaes

Leyens

Paladino

et al. 2012

European Review of Social Psychology

142

124

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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

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“…Os estudos sobre o essencialismo psicológico têm mostrado que as teorias implícitas que as pessoas mantêm sobre a natureza dos grupos sociais são fatores centrais para compreendermos as tensões intergrupais (Haslam, Bastian, & Bissett, 2004;Leyens et al, 2000;Pereira, Vala, & Leyens, 2009). De acordo com Allport (1954), as pessoas tendem a acreditar que tanto os objetos naturais como os fatos sociais possuem um conjunto fixo e imutável de atributos, ou essências, que definem a natureza desses objetos e fatos.…”

Section: Representações Sobre a Natureza Dos Grupos Sociais E Preconcunclassified

O papel de representações sociais sobre a natureza da homossexualidade na oposição ao casamento civil e à adoção por famílias homoafetivas

Pereira

Torres

Falcão

et al. 2013

Psic.: Teor. e Pesq.

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RESUMO -Analisaram-se as relações entre preconceito, apoio a políticas discriminatórias contra homossexuais e representações sociais sobre a natureza da homossexualidade. Participaram da pesquisa 297 estudantes do último ano de psicologia, serviço social e direito. Os resultados mostram que as representações sobre a homossexualidade baseadas em crenças religiosas, moralistas e psicológicas predizem o maior apoio às políticas discriminatórias contra os homossexuais, nomeadamente a oposição ao casamento e à adoção de crianças por casais homoafetivos. A crença na natureza cultural da homossexualidade prediz o menor apoio a essas políticas. As relações verificadas são mediadas pelo preconceito flagrante contra homossexuais. Esses resultados mostram o papel desempenhado por representações sobre a natureza dos grupos sociais na manutenção de preconceitos e práticas discriminatórias contra minorias sociais.Palavras-chave: preconceito, discriminação, homofobia, crenças essencialistas, representações sociaisThe Role of Social Representations about the Nature of Homosexuality: Opposition to Civil Marriage and Adoption by Homoaffective Families ABSTRACT -In this study the relationship between prejudice, support of discriminating policies against homosexuals and people's social representations about the nature of homosexuality was analyzed. Participants were 297 final year psychology, social work, and law students. Results showed that the representations about homosexuality based on religious, moralist, and psychological beliefs are positively related to the support of discriminating policies against homosexuals, specifically the opposition to civil union and to children's adoption by homosexuals. Beliefs about the cultural nature of homosexuality predicted lower support of these policies. These relations were mediated by blatant prejudice against homosexuals. These results show the role played by social representations about the nature of social groups in the maintenance of prejudices and discriminatory practices against minority groups.Keywords: prejudice, discrimination, homophobia, essentialist beliefs, social representations 1 Endereço para correspondência: Avenida Professor Aníbal de Bettencourt, 9.1600-189, Lisboa -Portugal. E-mail: cicero.pereira@ics.ul.ptDentre as diversas inovações inseridas no censo demográfico brasileiro realizado em 2010, uma das mais importantes é o levantamento do número de casais homossexuais existentes no Brasil. Os resultados apontam que existem mais de 60 mil casais homossexuais (IBGE, 2011). Essa informação é importante não apenas para traçar o retrato da população brasileira e assim fornecer bases para o desenvolvimento de políticas públicas, mas também porque a própria inclusão dessa variável no censo pode ser considerada um indicador de mudanças profundas que vêm ocorrendo na sociedade brasileira no que se refere à garantia dos direitos civis das minorias sexuais. Outro importante exemplo dessa mudança é a decisão, tomada em 5 de maio de 2012 pelo Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF), que c...

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From infra-humanization to discrimination: The mediation of symbolic threat needs egalitarian norms

Cited by 117 publications

References 31 publications

Social dominance‐based threat reactions to immigrants in need of assistance

Social dominance‐based threat reactions to immigrants in need of assistance

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

O papel de representações sociais sobre a natureza da homossexualidade na oposição ao casamento civil e à adoção por famílias homoafetivas

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