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INFRAHUMANIZATION

This study explores the process of infrahumanization and its implications in a multicultural society, focusing on the perception of ethnic minorities. It investigates the impact of computer-mediated communication (CMC) on infrahumanization compared to face-to-face communication. Preliminary results suggest that the medium of communication influences the degree of infrahumanization.

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INFRAHUMANIZATION

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  1. INFRAHUMANIZATION Process by which group members tend to associate more human attributes to members of the ingroup than the outgroup Multiculturalism and infrahumanization • In today's multicultural society, ethnic minorities may be infrahumanized as they are perceived as not being socially integrated. Research has shown that Roma Gypsies are infrahumanized across Europe. (Perez, Chulvi & Alonso, 2001) • Underlying aim: To examine the source of this infrahumanization between majority and ethnic minorities, and apply to it the current political gridlock both in Congress and in the blogosphere.

  2. “We’re humans; they’re animals!” • Primary & secondary emotions (Leyens et al) • Primary emotions are common to animals and humans (e.g. anger, surprise, fear, and disgust), while secondary emotions are exclusively human (e.g. nostalgia). • Primary emotions attributed to both in-group and out-group • Secondary emotions to in-group only

  3. Research question • Research question: Does computer-mediated communication (CMC) between members of opposing groups lead to greater evidence of infrahumanization than face-to-face communication?

  4. Infrahumanization Process by which group members tend to associate more human attributes to members of the ingroup than the outgroup • Primary Emotions: anger, fear, sadness, joy • Secondary emotions: sorrow, admiration, fondness Effect of infrahumanization is diminished when the outgroup is established as individuals rather than group members

  5. Infrahumanization • H1: more infrahumanization toward outgroup than ingroup • H2: less infrahumanization when describing individual partner than group

  6. SIDE When social identity is salient, and members are visually anonymous, partners relate on the basis of the group. • More likely to stereotype • More likely to conform to norms • Overattribution

  7. Infrahumanization and CMC • H3a: more infrahumanization in CMC than FtF when describing outgroup • H3b: less infrahumanization in CMC than FtF when describing ingroup

  8. Pilot Data: Word Matrix Survey of 48 words we conducted in class to help us determine the status of each word used in the actual study.

  9. Pilot Data: The Survey

  10. Primary vs. Secondary • Looked at 3 Categories of Words*: • Animal/Human Words • Examples: Educated, Civilized, Criminal • Emotion Words • Examples: Hopeful, Optimistic, Disenchanted • Moral Words • Examples: Virtuous, Righteous, Praiseworthy • *We tested 12 words in each category plus an additional 12 filler words to arrive at 48 total.

  11. Humanness vs.Valence Positive/Negative Valence

  12. Methodology Grade Obama Admin (e.g A+, B, C+, etc.) CMC Instant Messaging vs. Face-To-Face Democrats/Liberals v. Republicans/Conservatives Group identity made salient Eliciting of Emotions Evaluation

  13. Methodology Word Choice Paradigm Choose words that describe outgroup Choose words that describe partner

  14. Preliminary Results • For our purposes today, eight words matter • Uniquely human emotions: • hopeful, optimistic, resentful, disenchanted • Uniquely human descriptors: • civilized, educated, folksy, criminal

  15. Preliminary Results • Counting these words created the “uniquely human” score we are using for this study • High scores indicate high ratings of uniquely human qualities

  16. Preliminary Results • Evidence of infrahumanization? Yes. H1: more infrahumanization toward outgroup than ingroup H2: less infrahumanization when describing individual partner than group

  17. Preliminary Results • How people viewed their partners H3a: more infrahumanization in CMC than FtF when describing outgroup H3b: less infrahumanization in CMC than FtF when describing ingroup

  18. Preliminary Results • How people viewed their ingroup

  19. Preliminary Results • How people described the outgroup

  20. Preliminary Results | Trends • Whom we talk to influences how “human” we rate groups

  21. Preliminary Results | Trends • Medium matters, especially for intergroup situations Two participants after talking face to face: “We’re friends now.” One participant after talking via CMC: “Was I even talking to a real person?”

  22. Preliminary Results • Limitations • Sample size (n=15, so far) • 10 Minute Time • Party balance: • 13 Democrats • 2 Republicans (3 actually, but one resulted in spoiled data that was discarded)

  23. Future Research/Analysis • Far-reaching implications in the way we interact as a society. • Ensuing biases - “us" & "them” • Human as a social identity • How did valence pan out in this study? • What is the underlying role of morality judgments in infrahumanization?

  24. Contact Information http://theingroup.wordpress.com/

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