Meta‐humanization enhances positive reactions to prosocial cross‐group interaction

• Published in: British journal of social psychology 2021-07, Vol.60 (3), p.1051-1074
• Main Authors: Borinca, Islam, Tropp, Linda R., Ofosu, Nana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cultural factors; Dehumanization; Empathy; Experiments; Group identity; Humanization; Intergroup contact; Intergroup relations; Liking; meta‐dehumanization; meta‐humanization; Prosocial behavior; prosocial behaviour; Reconciliation; Social contact; Willingness
• ISSN: 0144-6665; 2044-8309
• DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12435

The present research investigated whether learning that an outgroup humanizes the ingroup (i.e., meta‐humanization) enhances how people react to intergroup prosocial behaviours and their willingness to engage in intergroup contact. In three experiments conducted in two cultural contexts (Kosovo and North Macedonia; n = 601), we manipulated meta‐humanization by informing participants that their ingroup is perceived to be as human as the outgroup by outgroup members. We compare this meta‐humanization condition with a meta‐dehumanization condition in which the participant's ingroup is perceived to be less human than the outgroup (Experiments 1 and 3), a meta‐liking condition in which the participant's ingroup is liked as much as the outgroup (Experiment 2), and a control condition (Experiments 1 and 2). Overall, results showed that participants in the meta‐humanization condition attributed more empathy and prosocial motives to a potential outgroup helper and were more willing to accept outgroup help and engage in future intergroup contact than participants in the other conditions. In addition, positive perceptions of the outgroup helper mediated the effect of meta‐humanization on willingness to accept outgroup help and engage in intergroup contact. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings for intergroup relations and reconciliation efforts.