A continuum, not a divide : The relationship between representations of nonhuman animals and prejudice towards immigrants
Year: 2012
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: The objective of this study was to examine whether representations of nonhuman animals could affect prejudice toward immigrants. Previous research has indicated that belief in a large divide between humans and other animals may underlie dehumanization and prejudice, whereas a belief in the continuity between humans and nonhuman animals can decrease dehumanization and prejudice. Based on Costello and Hodson’s (2010) study, an experimental framework was designed with two conditions, the animals are like humans (experimental) condition and the geology (control) condition. Specifically, the effect of the animals are like humans editorial on prejudice toward immigrants was examined, as well as the potentially mediating roles of humanization (traits and emotions), empathy, and recategorization. Values were also analyzed, to determine if and how one’s moral universe relates to these variables. Further, the social representations held about the groups Finn, Immigrant, Animal, and Human were examined, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The participants were Finnish students from Laurea Polytechnic and the University of Helsinki (N = 195), all of whom self-selected to take part in an online survey. After being randomly divided into the experimental (n = 99) and control (n = 96) groups and reading the applicable editorial, participants answered questionnaires measuring prejudice, dehumanization (traits and emotions), empathy, recategorization, animal-human similarity, and values. They also completed a word association task. The results of the intervention were mixed. The editorial did not have a direct effect on prejudice, or on most of the potential mediators. Only humanization emotions was significantly affected. Beyond the experimental manipulation, humanization (traits and emotions), empathy, and recategorization, as well as gender, school, and program of study all affected prejudice, accounting for 33.3% of its variance. Values relating to moral universe (universalism concern, nature, and tolerance; power resources and dominance) were significantly correlated with prejudice, humanization (traits and emotions), empathy, and recategorization. The trait and emotion scales were also examined for their content, and all traits and half of the emotions were significantly attributed to either Finns or immigrants, corresponding to stereotypic social representations of each group. Finally, word associations for Finn, Immigrant, Animal, and Human were examined in total and by experimental group, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Cohesive hegemonic social representations were most commonly expressed for the Finn, Animal, and Human groups, whereas Immigrant was more variable, comprising multiple polemic representations. Parallels between the Immigrant and Animal groups were discussed, and the valences given to all groups were analyzed and found to differ significantly across groups. Additionally, a significant effect of the experimental condition on the Immigrant group was found. The mixed results are discussed in light of methodological concerns and cultural implications. Overall, results indicate that representations of nonhuman animals may affect prejudice toward immigrants, and that targeting these representations could be a promising prejudice reduction method. Further research accounting for the issues raised by this study should be conducted.
Source: Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja
Author: Shandi Petersen
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2616410745