Draft:Meta-humanization


Meta-humanization is a concept in social psychology and intergroup relations referring to the belief that an outgroup perceives one's ingroup as fully human. It is closely related to, but distinct from, meta-dehumanization, which refers to the belief that an outgroup sees one's ingroup as less than fully human.

Research on meta-humanization examines whether believing that another group recognizes one's group as fully human can improve intergroup attitudes, reduce dehumanization, and support reconciliation. In experiments conducted in Kosovo and North Macedonia, learning that an outgroup humanizes the ingroup increased positive reactions to prosocial cross-group behavior, willingness to accept outgroup help, and willingness for future intergroup contact.[1]

Further studies in post-conflict Kosovo found that meta-humanization can increase conciliatory attitudes, including support for the outgroup, openness to future contact, and feelings of peace, partly through reduced blatant dehumanization. However, these effects did not consistently extend to support for intergroup negotiation.[2]

Meta-humanization has also been studied in relation to war-related memories. Research in postwar Kosovo found that meta-humanization improved conciliatory attitudes partly by reducing outgroup dehumanization, although its effects were weaker among people with stronger disturbing war-related memories.[3]

Other research has examined meta-humanization in Muslim–non-Muslim relations. Across studies in Canada and the United Kingdom, meta-humanization reduced prejudice through increased outgroup humanization, including under conditions of high perceived intergroup threat.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. Borinca, Islam; Tropp, Linda R.; Ofosu, Nana (2021). "Meta-humanization enhances positive reactions to prosocial cross-group interaction". British Journal of Social Psychology. 60 (3): 1051–1074. doi:10.1111/bjso.12435. PMID 33644887.
  2. Borinca, Islam; Van Assche, Jasper; Koc, Yasin (2024). "How meta-humanization leads to conciliatory attitudes but not intergroup negotiation: The mediating roles of attribution of secondary emotions and blatant dehumanization". Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology. 7 100198. Bibcode:2024CRESP...700198B. doi:10.1016/j.cresp.2024.100198.
  3. Borinca, Islam; Stathi, Sofia; Gkinopoulos, Theofilos (2025). "Ameliorating War's Shadows: The Role of War-related Memories and Meta-humanization on Intergroup Reconciliation". Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 52 (8): 2418–2435. doi:10.1177/01461672251338559. PMC 13310280. PMID 40396605.
  4. Pavetich, Melissa; Stathi, Sofia (2021). "Meta-humanization reduces prejudice, even under high intergroup threat" (PDF). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 120 (3): 651–671. doi:10.1037/pspi0000259. PMID 32700957.