The Ascent of Man: Theoretical and Empirical Evidence for Blatant Dehumanization

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dc.contributor.authorKteily, Nour
dc.contributor.authorBruneau, Emile
dc.contributor.authorWaytz, Adam
dc.contributor.authorCotterill, Sarah
dc.date2023-05-17T20:14:16.000
dc.date.accessioned2023-05-22T12:03:03Z
dc.date.available2023-05-22T12:03:03Z
dc.date.issued2015-11-01
dc.date.submitted2018-06-14T13:25:41-07:00
dc.description.abstractDehumanization is a central concept in the study of intergroup relations. Yet although theoretical and methodological advances in subtle, “everyday” dehumanization have progressed rapidly, blatant dehumanization remains understudied. The present research attempts to refocus theoretical and empirical attention on blatant dehumanization, examining when and why it provides explanatory power beyond subtle dehumanization. To accomplish this, we introduce and validate a blatant measure of dehumanization based on the popular depiction of evolutionary progress in the “Ascent of Man.” We compare blatant dehumanization to established conceptualizations of subtle and implicit dehumanization, including infrahumanization, perceptions of human nature and human uniqueness, and implicit associations between ingroup–outgroup and human–animal concepts. Across 7 studies conducted in 3 countries, we demonstrate that blatant dehumanization is (a) more strongly associated with individual differences in support for hierarchy than subtle or implicit dehumanization, (b) uniquely predictive of numerous consequential attitudes and behaviors toward multiple outgroup targets, (c) predictive above prejudice, and (d) reliable over time. Finally, we show that blatant—but not subtle—dehumanization spikes immediately after incidents of real intergroup violence and strongly predicts support for aggressive actions like torture and retaliatory violence (after the Boston Marathon bombings and Woolwich attacks in England). This research extends theory on the role of dehumanization in intergroup relations and intergroup conflict and provides an intuitive, validated empirical tool to reliably measure blatant dehumanization.
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.upenn.edu/handle/20.500.14332/2237
dc.legacy.articleid1594
dc.legacy.fields10.1037/pspp0000048
dc.legacy.fulltexturlhttps://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1594&context=asc_papers&unstamped=1
dc.rights© American Psychological Association, 2015. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. Please do not copy or cite without author's permission. The final article is available, upon publication, at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000048
dc.source.beginpage901
dc.source.endpage931
dc.source.issue569
dc.source.issue5
dc.source.journalDepartmental Papers (ASC)
dc.source.journaltitleJournal of Personality and Social Psychology
dc.source.peerreviewedtrue
dc.source.statuspublished
dc.source.volume109
dc.subject.otherdehumanization
dc.subject.otherinfrahumanization
dc.subject.otherintergroup relations
dc.subject.otherconflict
dc.subject.othersocial dominance orientation
dc.subject.otherCognition and Perception
dc.subject.otherCognitive Psychology
dc.subject.otherCommunication
dc.subject.otherCommunity Psychology
dc.subject.otherGender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication
dc.subject.otherInternational and Intercultural Communication
dc.subject.otherMass Communication
dc.subject.otherPersonality and Social Contexts
dc.subject.otherSocial and Behavioral Sciences
dc.subject.otherSocial Influence and Political Communication
dc.subject.otherSocial Psychology
dc.subject.otherTheory and Philosophy
dc.titleThe Ascent of Man: Theoretical and Empirical Evidence for Blatant Dehumanization
dc.typeReport
digcom.contributor.authorKteily, Nour
digcom.contributor.authorisAuthorOfPublication|email:emile.bruneau@asc.upenn.edu|institution:University of Pennsylvania|Bruneau, Emile
digcom.contributor.authorWaytz, Adam
digcom.contributor.authorCotterill, Sarah
digcom.identifierasc_papers/569
digcom.identifier.contextkey12320929
digcom.identifier.submissionpathasc_papers/569
digcom.typereport
dspace.entity.typePublication
relation.isAuthorOfPublication54df4fc9-cf47-4615-918c-d49ca45cb7a1
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery54df4fc9-cf47-4615-918c-d49ca45cb7a1
upenn.schoolDepartmentCenterDepartmental Papers (ASC)
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