Experimental RitualHumanizing Immigrants or Utilitarian Prejudice in Europe?

  1. José J. Pizarro 1
  2. Saioa Telletxea 1
  3. Magdalena Bobowik 1
  4. Larraitz Zumeta 1
  1. 1 University of the Basque Country, España
Zeitschrift:
Universitas psychologica

ISSN: 1657-9267

Datum der Publikation: 2017

Ausgabe: 16

Nummer: 5

Art: Artikel

Andere Publikationen in: Universitas psychologica

Zusammenfassung

Immigrants and refugees are constantly depicted in dehumanizing ways or as a function of economic gains for the hosting nation. These descriptions, added to the current socio-political European situation, could be dangerous due to infrahumanization levels among minorities who are target of prejudice. In this study, we attempted to reduce infrahumanization levels towards Maghrebian people through a ritualistic collective activity, manipulating the information participants had to use. Results indicate that participation was different among conditions and infrahumanization levels were reduced. Also, participants who used utilitarian information could humanize when an economic gain was perceived, while also increasing prejudice levels. The results are discussed in terms of collective rituals and the dualistic effect of utilitarian information.