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      Dehumanizing the Lowest of the Low : Neuroimaging Responses to Extreme Out-Groups

      1 , 1
      Psychological Science
      Wiley

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          Abstract

          Traditionally, prejudice has been conceptualized as simple animosity. The stereotype content model (SCM) shows that some prejudice is worse. The SCM previously demonstrated separate stereotype dimensions of warmth (low-high) and competence (low-high), identifying four distinct out-group clusters. The SCM predicts that only extreme out-groups, groups that are both stereotypically hostile and stereotypically incompetent (low warmth, low competence), such as addicts and the homeless, will be dehumanized. Prior studies show that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is necessary for social cognition. Functional magnetic resonance imaging provided data for examining brain activations in 10 participants viewing 48 photographs of social groups and 12 participants viewing objects; each picture dependably represented one SCM quadrant. Analyses revealed mPFC activation to all social groups except extreme (low-low) out-groups, who especially activated insula and amygdala, a pattern consistent with disgust, the emotion predicted by the SCM. No objects, though rated with the same emotions, activated the mPFC. This neural evidence supports the prediction that extreme out-groups may be perceived as less than human, or dehumanized.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          Psychological Science
          Psychol Sci
          Wiley
          0956-7976
          1467-9280
          May 06 2016
          October 2006
          May 06 2016
          October 2006
          : 17
          : 10
          : 847-853
          Affiliations
          [1 ]Department of Psychology; Center for the Study of Brain, Mind, and Behavior; Princeton University
          Article
          10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01793.x
          17100784
          cc0b8e66-e93c-4fdc-a97b-f3c0d2a6411d
          © 2006

          http://journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license

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