Dangerous Speech: A Cross-Cultural Study of Dehumanization and Revenge

Abstract Dehumanization is routinely invoked in social science and law as the primary factor explaining how propaganda encourages support for, or participation in, violence against targeted outgroups. Yet primacy of dehumanization increasingly challenged by apparent influence revenge on collective violence. This study examines critically various audiences. Although previous research stresses dangers dehumanizing propaganda, a recently published found that only significantly lowered outgroup empathy. Given importance these findings for behavioral sciences, this augments recent with two additional samples were culturally distinct from prior findings, showing again was significant. To explore effect further, we also conducted facial electromyography (fEMG) among small set participants, finding triggered stronger negative emotions outgroups than dehumanization.