Six studies explored the mechanisms that diminish allegiance to social groups. Results showed that degrading either collective ties (i.e., sentiments toward the group as a whole) or relational ties ...(i.e., sentiments toward individual group members) lowered identity fusion with the group (Studies 1–3 & 6). Lowered fusion, in turn, explained the tendency for weakened collective and relational ties to reduce endorsement of pro-group action, and this effect replicated cross-sectionally and longitudinally (Studies 2, 4 & 6). Additional evidence revealed that attenuated group-related agency seemed to mediate the relationship between weakened identity fusion and diminished commitment to help the group (Studies 3, 4 & 6). Although degrading collective ties reduced overall group identification (Studies 1–3 & 6), degrading relational ties did not reliably do so (Studies 1–6). Instead, degrading relational ties only reduced scores on a single component (ingroup solidarity) of a multidimensional measure of group identification (Studies 5 & 6). Hence, measures of identity fusion are equally sensitive to relational and collective ties while measures of identification emphasize collective ties. The results replicated whether we considered country (Studies 1–5) or gender (i.e. females, Study 6) as the focal social group. These findings therefore highlight the unique properties of fusion and identification and help explain why identity fusion predicts extreme pro-group behavior with greater fidelity than group identification.
The current research investigates the effect of a type of intergroup contact that has rarely been studied to date, class-based contact, on one’s personal contribution to inequality. We conducted two ...studies with middle and upper class individuals. We first longitudinally examined whether positive contact with working-class people reduces contribution to inequality (i.e., participants stating that they themselves contribute to maintaining the social hierarchy) whilst controlling for ideological factors. Lower levels of contribution to inequality were present in people with more and better contact, but the change over time was small in the absence of experimental manipulation. An experiment then showed that recall of positive (vs. negative) contact with working-class people reduced participants’ contribution to inequality and increased their willingness to participate in collective action for equality. These results suggest that facilitating spaces where members of different social classes can have positive interactions can contribute to reducing inequality.
Mexico is one of the most diverse countries with numerous social minorities such as indigenous Mexicans, but also immigrants coming from countries so different like Honduras or the United States ...(US). The relationship between stereotypes about minorities and perceived threat has been extensively studied; however, it has not been tested whether such a relationship varies according to the target evaluated. We compared the stereotypes of Mexicans toward indigenous Mexicans, US immigrants, and Honduran immigrants, and analyzed their relationship with perceived threat, perceived discrimination, and quantity of contact. Six hundred and thirty-five Mexican participants (62.5% female,
Mage
= 29.07) answered an online questionnaire reporting their stereotypes of (im)morality, sociability, and competence of the outgroup (i.e., indigenous Mexicans, US immigrants, or Honduran immigrants), and of the ingroup (Mexican majority), perceived threat and discrimination of the three minorities, and their quantity of contact with them. Results showed that indigenous Mexicans were the best-evaluated group in all stereotype dimensions, and were considered the least threatening and the most discriminated group. Perceived (im)morality of US and especially of Honduran immigrants was associated with perceptions of realistic threat, but this association was not sustained when evaluating indigenous Mexicans. Our findings may contribute to understanding the complexity when evaluating different minorities in Mexico and some of the psychosocial processes involved.
Three experiments tested whether verification of ingroup morality increases engagement in collective action in favor of immigrants’ rights. To that end, participants were exposed to (a) verifying, ...(b) negatively discrepant, (c) enhancing, or (d) no feedback about the morality of their group in general (Studies 1–2) or specifically in matters of corruption (Study 3). Results show that those who received verifying feedback of their group’s morality were more willing to engage in collective action than those who received negative or no feedback. These effects seemed to be mediated by increased anger over immigrants’ disadvantage and positive attitudes towards them. Critically, enhancing feedback exerted similar effects as verifying feedback, although the latter yielded more stable and consistent results across the studies. These results suggest that appeals to collective ingroup morality can be effective to promote immigrants’ rights, especially when members of the host society feel that others consider them as moral as they perceive themselves.
This study investigates the effect of daily consumption of a concentrated garlic and onion extract on COVID-19 symptoms among elderly nursing home residents. Volunteers consumed a daily capsule of ...the concentrated powder rich in organosulfur compounds over 36 weeks during lunch. The incidence and severity of COVID-19 symptoms between the treatment and control groups were compared, along with monitoring the safety of consumption, incidence of other diseases, and medicine usage. The treatment group showed a significant reduction in both the number and severity of COVID-19 symptoms compared to the control group, with no significant adverse effects observed. No significant reduction in symptom duration was detected. This study provides preliminary evidence that concentrated garlic and onion extract may aid in the treatment of COVID-19 among older adults. These findings suggest potential public health benefits, emphasizing the need for further research to explore the immunomodulatory properties of these natural compounds.
Although research on dehumanization in behavioral sciences has exponentially increased in the last two decades, most of the investigation's efforts have focused either on perpetrators or victims of ...dehumanization independently of one another. Paralleling trends in the psychology of discrimination, we argue that a full comprehension of dehumanization needs to take into consideration the dynamics of dehumanizing interactions. In particular, we distinguish other-, meta-, and self-dehumanization and propose three ways by which these phenomena could interrelate: reciprocal dehumanization, displaced dehumanization, and compensatory dehumanization. We also review the literature that supports these interrelations.
•The dehumanization literature should consider the interrelationships between other-, self-, and meta-dehumanization (i.e. the feeling of being dehumanized).•Reciprocal dehumanization occurs when meta-dehumanization is reciprocated onto the perpetrator.•Displaced dehumanization occurs when meta-dehumanization feelings give rise to the dehumanization of innocent targets.•Compensatory dehumanization is evidenced on the two subdimensions of human nature and human uniqueness, leading to both the self and other being partially dehumanized on one or the other dimension.•Cognitive appraisals of the experience of dehumanization can be influenced by personal, situational, and structural factors, and such appraisals determine the type of dehumanizing response that will arise.
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