When the lens is too wide: The political consequences of the visual dehumanization of refugees

Abstract Photojournalistic images shape our understanding of sociopolitical events. How humans are depicted in may have far-reaching consequences for attitudes towards them. Social psychology has shown how the visualization an ‘identifiable victim effect’ can elicit empathic responses. However, identifiable victims media exception rather than norm. In context Syrian refugee crisis, majority Western refugees as large unidentifiable groups. While effects visual depiction single individuals well-known, ways which framing groups operates, and its social political consequences, remain unknown. We here focus on to understand exposure dominant used media, depicting them faceless individuals, affects their dehumanization sets off consequences. To that end we brought together insights from psychology, sciences humanities test a range hypotheses using methods 10 studies with participation 3951 European citizens. Seeing resulted greater implicit compared small Images also explicitly rated more dehumanizing, when coupled meta-data such newspaper headlines, continue play significant independent role (de)humanizing perceive news coverage be. Moreover, after viewing groups, participants showed increased preference less trustworthy-looking leaders supported fewer pro-refugee policies anti-refugee policies. terms mechanistic these effects, extent felt pity opposed mediated effect choice authoritarian-looking leader. What see it is not only relate other human beings behaviour but, ultimately, functioning systems.