Warmth, competence, and subtle dehumanization: Comparing clustering patterns of warmth and competence with animalistic and mechanistic dehumanization

The way in which people dehumanize may vary based on perceptions of social outgroups. This study explores how outgroups may be more animalistically or mechanistically dehumanized based on perceived stereotype content. This work compares competing theoretical perspectives regarding the relationship between the dual model of dehumanization with dimensions of warmth and competence. We predicted that participants would dehumanize high warmth, low competence outgroups more animalistically, and dehumanize low warmth, high competence outgroups more mechanistically. Results instead supported the stereotype content view of dehumanization, such that graded dehumanization occurred with the removal of warmth and competence. This work helps to clarify previous research and provides insight into way in which people evaluate outgroup stereotype content and the dehumanization of such outgroups. Implications and limitations of the work are discussed.