Departmental Papers (ASC)
Document Type
Technical Report
Date of this Version
1-2017
Publication Source
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Volume
43
Issue
1
Start Page
87
Last Page
104
DOI
10.1177/0146167216675334
Abstract
Research suggests that members of advantaged groups who feel dehumanized by other groups respond aggressively. But little is known about how meta-dehumanization affects disadvantaged minority group members, historically the primary targets of dehumanization. We examine this important question in the context of the 2016 U.S. Republican Primaries, which have witnessed the widespread derogation and dehumanization of Mexican immigrants and Muslims. Two initial studies document that Americans blatantly dehumanize Mexican immigrants and Muslims; this dehumanization uniquely predicts support for aggressive policies proposed by Republican nominees, and dehumanization is highly associated with supporting Republican candidates (especially Donald Trump). Two further studies show that, in this climate, Latinos and Muslims in the United States feel heavily dehumanized, which predicts hostile responses including support for violent versus non-violent collective action and unwillingness to assist counterterrorism efforts. Our results extend theorizing on dehumanization, and suggest that it may have cyclical and self-fulfilling consequences.
Copyright/Permission Statement
Kteily, N. & Bruneau, E., Backlash: The Politics and Real-World Consequences of Minority Group Dehumanization, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 43, no. 1: pp. 87-104. Copyright © 2017 Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications.
This is a pre-publication version. The final version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0146167216675334
Keywords
dehumanization, meta-dehumanization, prejudice, intergroup relations, meta-perceptions, 2016 U.S. Election, Donald Trump
Recommended Citation
Kteily, N., & Bruneau, E. (2017). Backlash: The Politics and Real-World Consequences of Minority Group Dehumanization. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 43 (1), 87-104. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167216675334
Included in
American Politics Commons, Cognition and Perception Commons, Cognitive Psychology Commons, Community Psychology Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, International and Intercultural Communication Commons, Mass Communication Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Social Influence and Political Communication Commons, Social Psychology Commons
Date Posted: 15 June 2018
This document has been peer reviewed.