Not all groups are equal: Differential vulnerability of social groups to the prejudice-releasing effects of disparagement humor

Abstract

Three experiments tested hypotheses about why humor that disparages some groups fosters discrimination whereas humor that disparages others does not. Experiment 1 showed that disparagement humor fosters discrimination against groups for whom society’s attitudes are ambivalent. Participants higher in anti-Muslim prejudice tolerated discrimination against a Muslim person more after reading anti-Muslim jokes than after reading anti-Muslim statements or neutral jokes. Experiments 2 and 3 tested the hypothesis that disparagement humor promotes discrimination against groups for whom society’s attitudes are ambivalent but not groups for whom prejudice is justified. In Experiment 2 participants higher in anti-Muslim prejudice discriminated against Muslims more after reading anti-Muslim jokes than neutral jokes, while antiterrorist jokes did not promote discrimination against terrorists. In Experiment 3 participants higher in antigay prejudice discriminated against a gay student organization more after reading antigay jokes than after reading neutral or antiracist jokes; antiracist jokes did not promote discrimination against a racist student organization.

It’s just a (sexist) joke: comparing reactions to sexist versus racist communications

“…In addition, Ford et al (2008) found that for men high in hostile sexism exposure to sexist humor led to more discrimination against women than exposure to a serious sexist message. Others have demonstrated that disparagement humor can promote discrimination against not only women, but also other groups that occupy a position of shifting acceptability in society (e.g., Muslims and gays; Ford et al 2014). Individuals' perceptions of how humor impacts discriminatory messages may not be congruent with the real and damaging effects of such humor.…”

Disparagement humor and prejudice: Contemporary theory and research

“…In addition, disparagement humor appears to affect people's willingness to actually discriminate against the targeted group (e.g., Ford et al 2008 andFord et al 2014;Romero-Sanchez et al 2010;Viki 2013, Viki et al 2007). Ford et al (2008) examined the effect of sexist humor on men's willingness to discriminate against women.…”

Humour is serious: Minority group members’ use of humour in their encounters with majority group members

“…Research shows that disparaging humour about minorities reproduces ethnic and sexist stereotypes (Hobden & Olson, 1994;Woodzicka & Ford, 2010). Indeed, sexist humour has been shown to be consequential for women's treatment (Ford, 2000;Ford, Boxer, Armstrong, & Edel, 2008;Ford, Woodzicka, Triplett, & Kochersberger, 2013;Woodzicka & Ford, 2010) because it releases existing prejudice (Ford, Richardson, & Petit, 2015;Ford, Woodzicka, Triplett, Kochersberger, & Holden, 2014;Ford et al, 2008). In part this is because passing comment in the form of a "joke" helps individuals manage the interactional complexities of expressing prejudice (Crandall & Eshleman, 2003).…”