Human, Animal and Automata Attributions: an Investigation of the Multidimensionality of the Ontologization Process

Abstract

The ontologization process involves the use of social representation relating to the human–animal binary to classify ingroup and outgroup members. To date, no study has investigated the multidimensional nature (i.e. human, animal and automata) of the ontologizing process via structural equation modelling (SEM). Four hundred and twenty-one Italian participants were asked to attribute 24 positive/negative, human/animal/automata associates to each of three target groups: typical Roma/Chinese/Italian. Results showed that the proposed six-factor model (i.e. positive/negative, human/animal/automata essence) was statistically robust for each of the three groups. The Roma group was animalized by attributing more animal negative associates than any other target group, whereas the Chinese group was mainly given a robot positive essence.

Addressing anti-Gypsyism with context-dependent psychological tools: Research review, meta-analysis and secondary analysis of prejudice against the Roma

“…The strong and blatantly expressed prejudice against Roma people is aligned with target perceptions that justify their hostile treatment Pivetti et al, 2022;Sigona, 2005). Namely, Roma people were classified as a dissident group based on a survey conducted in Hungary, suggesting that they appear both as a threat to social order and as competitors (Hadarics & Kende, 2018).…”