Edinburgh Psychology Keynote Talk

Speaker: Professor Harriet Over

Title: Understanding the role of dehumanization in intergroup discrimination

Abstract: Discrimination is a pressing social problem. Psychological research can only help ameliorate discrimination if it accurately characterises the mechanisms underlying our social biases. Prominent social psychological theories suggest that outgroups are often subtly dehumanised by being denied uniquely human qualities and emotions.  I will present a series of theoretical and empirical challenges to these claims. I will describe experimental data suggesting that, although out-group members may be denied some uniquely human qualities and emotions (like rationality and civility), they are often attributed others (like jealousy and spite). I will discuss the implications of these findings for our understanding of intergroup harm.

Further information

For further information please contact Matti Wilks.