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Washington University in St. Louis

Towards a Greater Understanding of the Antecedents of Dehumanization: A Contempt-Dehumanization Framework

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Although dehumanization has been studied in a variety of conceptual and methodological paradigms, surprisingly little is known about the role of affect as a mediator of the dehumanization process. In this paper we propose and test a contempt-dehumanization model, which stipulates that, the effect of severe norm violations on dehumanization is indirect, as mediated by contempt: norm violation ! contempt ! dehumanization). Across three studies we provide consistent support for this model in the realm of extremely immoral acts committed by drug dealers who intentionally target young children: Experiments 1 and 3) as well as unscrupulous Wall Street businessmen who deliberately scam unsuspecting elderly investors: Experiment 2). We discuss the implications of our model for previous models of dehumanization.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts (MA)
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Psychology
Year dc:date.available
2013

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Eadeh, Fade Rimon
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Alan J. Lambert

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Rights

Language dc:language
English (en)

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:openscholarship.wustl.edu:etd-2115

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Washington University in St. Louis
Base URL
openscholarship.wustl.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Eadeh, Fade Rimon. Towards a Greater Understanding of the Antecedents of Dehumanization: A Contempt-Dehumanization Framework. Thesis thesis, 2013. https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/etd/1115