From Infra-Humanization to Discrimination: The Mediation of Symbolic Threat Nee...

• Author(s): Pereira, Cícero Roberto ; Vala, Jorge, 1947- ; Leyens, Jacques Philippe
• Date: 2009
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10451/8937
• Origin: Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa
• Subject(s): Discriminação; Infra-humanização
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

This set of studies tests the link between infra-humanization, symbolic threat, and discrimination within normative contexts. In two experiments, manipulating the degree of humanity of a disliked outgroup has an effect upon the discrimination towards it. The infra-humanized outgroup is more discriminated than the humanized one. Also, the perception of symbolic threat plays the role of a justifying factor for discrimination, and mediates the relationship between degrees of humanity and discrimination. Study 2 further shows that this mediation occurs only when an egalitarian norm is activated, and not when meritocracy is made salient. The discussion focuses on factors likely to prevent infra-humanization of outgroups. It also considers how norms may change the role of threat.