Closeness to Self Leads to Humanization

1
Closeness to Self Leads to Humanization

• More or less human

Workshop 5 Dani?l Wigboldus Jeroen
VaesFlavia AlbarelloAleksandra CislakThomas
DensonFriederike Eyssel
2
Infrahumanization Theory

• Definition
• Ascription of humanity to a greater extent to
  the ingroup than to the outgroups
• Operationalization
• Attribution of more (less) uniquely human
  emotions (secondary emotions) to the ingroup
  (outgroup) independently of their valence
  (positive happiness, negative shame)
• Standard Effect
• People attribute more secondary emotions to
  their ingroup than to the outgroups
• (e.g., Leyens et al., 2000 Leyens et al., 2001
  Paladino et al., 2002 for reviews Leyens et
  al., 2003 Demoulin et al., 2004)

3
Interpretation of Standard Infrahumanization
Effect

• Infrahumanization of outgroups is a sign of
  distinctiveness between the ingroup and the
  outgroup (Demoulin et al., 2004, p. 264)
• Phenomenon which integrates both ingroup
  favoritism and outgroup derogation (Leyens et
  al., 2003, p. 705)
• Based on differences between ingroup and
  outgroups
• Ingroup bias or outgroup bias?

4
Possible Explanations

• Based on Ingroup Projection Model
• Ingroupers will perceive themselves as
  prototypes of what human beings are, and consider
  outgroup members to have lesser humanity
  (Demoulin et al., 2004, p. 290)
• Closeness to Self Hypothesis
• Closeness to Self affects the extent of humanity
  attribution. Whatever is closer to self is
  attributed humanity to a greater extent.
• Initial support from Haslam et al. (2005)

5
Study 1

• Aim of Study 1 Basic test of the Closeness to
  Self Hypothesis
• Closeness to self affects the extent to which a
  being is humanized
• Even if it is not human at all ?

6
Study 1

• Aim of Study 1 Basic test of the Closeness to
  Self Hypothesis
• Closeness to self affects the extent to which a
  being is humanized
• Even if it is not human at all ?

7
Study 1 Method

• Ps rate the extent to which a dog is capable of
  experiencing primary (pleasure, rage) vs.
  secondary emotions (happiness, indignation).
• 2 (your pet dog vs. anothers dog) x 2 (order
  of ratings)
• DV Indirect measure ( the capability of
  experiencing primary vs. secondary emotions on
  7-point Likert scales)
• Hypothesis People will humanize animals close to
  self more than other animals

8
Study 1Expected Results
CONCLUSION People humanize to a greater extent
animals closer to self
9
Study 2

• Aim Implicit test of closeness to self
  manipulation
• Sequential priming task
• Primes self-morphed faces and other-morphed
  faces
• Targets primary and secondary emotions (matched
  on valence)
• Hypothesis Self-morphed primes will facilitate
  recognition of secondary emotions relative to
  other-morphed faces

10
Morphed Faces Examples
As in Bailenson et al., 2006
11
Study 2 - Procedure
12
Study 2Expected Results
CONCLUSION Closeness to self produces Standard
Infrahumanization Effect
13
Study 3

• Aims
• Demonstrate that different types of ingroups vary
  in perceptions of closeness to the self.
• Demonstrate that ingroup type moderates the
  extent to which they are humanized.
• Demonstrate that perceptions of closeness to the
  self for each group type predict humanization.

14
Study 3

• Types of groups
• Intimacy groups (family, fraternity/sorority,
  close friends)
• Social categories (racial ethnicity, university
  students, citizens of America)
• Task groups (people assigned to a class project,
  coworkers, campus club)
• Predictors
• Closeness to the Self (Aron et al., 1992)
• Essentialism (Haslam et al., 2000)
• Entitativity (Haslam et al., 2000)
• DVs
• Primary and secondary emotions (matched on
  valence)
• Human nature and uniquely human
  characteristics

15
Study 3Expected Results
16
Study 3Expected Results
17
Study 3Expected Results
18
Study 3Expected Results
19
Study 3Expected Results
Closeness to the Self

Essentiality
Humanization Of the Ingroup

ns
Entitativity
20
Take Home Message

• Closeness to the self may underlie the
  infrahumanization phenomenon.