Humanizing Outgroups Through Multiple Categorization: The Roles of Individuation and Threat

Prati, Francesca; Crisp, Richard J.; Meleady, Rose; Rubini, Monica

doi:10.1177/0146167216636624

Humanizing Outgroups Through Multiple Categorization: The Roles of Individuation and Threat

Prati, Francesca; Crisp, Richard J.; Meleady, Rose; Rubini, Monica

Authors

Francesca Prati

Professor Richard Crisp richard.j.crisp@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Rose Meleady

Monica Rubini

Abstract

In three studies, we examined the impact of multiple categorization on intergroup dehumanization. Study 1 showed that perceiving members of a rival university along multiple versus simple categorical dimensions enhanced the tendency to attribute human traits to this group. Study 2 showed that multiple versus simple categorization of immigrants increased the attribution of uniquely human emotions to them. This effect was explained by the sequential mediation of increased individuation of the outgroup and reduced outgroup threat. Study 3 replicated this sequential mediation model and introduced a novel way of measuring humanization in which participants generated attributes corresponding to the outgroup in a free response format. Participants generated more uniquely human traits in the multiple versus simple categorization conditions. We discuss the theoretical implications of these findings and consider their role in informing and improving efforts to ameliorate contemporary forms of intergroup discrimination.

Citation

Prati, F., Crisp, R. J., Meleady, R., & Rubini, M. (2016). Humanizing Outgroups Through Multiple Categorization: The Roles of Individuation and Threat. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 42(4), 526-539. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167216636624

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Feb 7, 2016
Online Publication Date	Mar 16, 2016
Publication Date	Apr 1, 2016
Deposit Date	Aug 23, 2017
Publicly Available Date	Sep 5, 2017
Journal	Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Print ISSN	0146-1672
Electronic ISSN	1552-7433
Publisher	SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	42
Issue	4
Pages	526-539
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167216636624

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