Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
10:29
A Complex Diving-For-Food Task to Investigate Social Organization and Interactions in Rats
Published on: May 8, 2021
Varieties of (de) humanization: divided by competition and status
1Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA. sfiske@princeton.edu
Nebraska Symposium on Motivation. Nebraska Symposium on Motivation
|August 17, 2013
Summary
Perceptions of warmth and competence predict dehumanization, influencing social judgments and behaviors toward different groups. Understanding these dimensions reveals how we perceive ingroups versus outgroups.
Area of Science:
- Social psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human-computer interaction
Background:
- Human perception of others is often based on perceived warmth and competence.
- These dimensions influence social judgments and intergroup relations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural and behavioral signatures of dehumanizing responses.
- To examine how perceived warmth and competence shape reactions to different social groups.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of neural and behavioral data related to social perception.
- Examination of responses to various ingroups and outgroups based on warmth and competence.
Main Results:
- Groups low in both warmth and competence elicit disgust and avoidance.
- Groups high in competence but low in warmth evoke envy and Schadenfreude.
- Reactions to groups low in competence but high in warmth involve behavioral prescriptions.
Conclusions:
- Dehumanization is predictably linked to perceived warmth and competence.
- Distinct neural and behavioral patterns characterize responses to different outgroups.
- Ingroup humanization involves individuating processes, reflecting complex social cognition.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Impact of Groups on Groups
Social psychologists analyze how groups influence one another, shaping social structures and interactions through both cooperation and competition. These dynamics manifest in various ways, ranging from economic partnerships to intergroup conflicts that shape societal structures and perceptions.Cooperation and Competition in Intergroup RelationsIntergroup relationships vary across contexts, sometimes fostering cooperation and mutual benefit while at other times leading to conflict and...
02:16Stereotype Content Model
The Stereotype Content Model (SCM) was first proposed by Susan Fiske and her colleagues (Fiske, Cuddy, Glick & Xu, 2002; see also Fiske, 2012 and Fiske, 2017). The SCM specifies that when someone encounters a new group, they will stereotype them based on two metrics: warmth—or that group’s perceived intent, and how likely they are to provide help or inflict harm—and competence—or their ability to carry out that objective. Depending on the warmth-competence categorization, a person will feel...
02:12Relationship Formation
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
01:30Self Within Cultural Contexts
Cultural frameworks for understanding the self are often categorized into two broad orientations: individualism and collectivism. These paradigms influence how people define themselves, relate to others, and interpret their social worlds. Each orientation offers distinct perspectives on autonomy, responsibility, and the role of the individual within a community.Individualistic CulturesIn individualistic cultures like North America and Western Europe, identity is understood as autonomous and...
01:31In- and Out-Groups
People all belong to a gender, race, age, and social economic group. These groups provide a powerful source of our identity and self-esteem (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) and serve as our in-groups. An in-group is a group that we identify with or see ourselves as belonging to.
02:34Competition
When organisms require the same limited resources within an environment, they may have to compete for them. Competition is a net-negative interaction. Even if two competing individuals or populations do not interact directly, the overall fitness of both competitors is lowered as a result of not having full access to the limited resource.