Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education, and Applied Psychology, Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
Department of Education and Human Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
PLoS One. 2022 Mar 18;17(3):e0265714. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265714. eCollection 2022.
Individuals tend to dehumanize the outgroup. In this paper, we explore whether the activation of attachment security can attenuate dehumanization. Two studies were performed. In Study 1, attachment security was primed by showing pictures that depicted relationships with attachment figures; the outgroup was the homeless and humanization was measured considering the attribution of uniquely human and non-uniquely human emotions to this group. In Study 2, the sense of interpersonal security was activated by inviting participants to relive a recent interaction that left them with a feeling of safety and warmth. Outgroup members were the Roma, and humanization was measured considering the attribution of uniquely human and human nature traits to them. In Study 2, the mediation effect of intergroup emotions was investigated. In both studies, outgroup humanization effects were highlighted. In Study 2, these effects were mediated by increased empathy toward the outgroup. Interestingly, the positive impact of security activation was not moderated by chronic attachment orientations. Findings suggest strategies that can be used to improve intergroup relations in specific contexts and in society at large.
个体倾向于将外群体非人化。在本文中，我们探讨了依恋安全性的激活是否可以减轻去人性化。进行了两项研究。在研究 1 中，通过展示描绘与依恋人物关系的图片来启动依恋安全性；将无家可归者作为外群体，并且通过将独特的人类和非独特的人类情感归因于该群体来衡量去人性化。在研究 2 中，通过邀请参与者重温最近一次让他们感到安全和温暖的互动来激活人际安全感。罗姆人作为外群体，通过将独特的人类和人性特质归因于他们来衡量去人性化。在研究 2 中，还研究了群际情感的中介效应。在这两项研究中，都突出了对外群体的去人性化效应。在研究 2 中，这些效应是通过增加对外群体的同理心来介导的。有趣的是，安全激活的积极影响不受慢性依恋取向的调节。研究结果表明，可以在特定情况下和整个社会中使用某些策略来改善群体间关系。
