TY - JOUR
T1 - Thinking About God Discourages Dehumanization of Religious Outgroups
AU - Smith, Julia M.
AU - Pasek, Michael H.
AU - Vishkin, Allon
AU - Johnson, Kathryn A.
AU - Shackleford, Crystal
AU - Ginges, Jeremy
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 American Psychological Association
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - In seven studies, six with American Christians and one with Israeli Jews (total N = 2,323), we examine how and when belief in moralizing gods influences dehumanization of ethno-religious outgroups. We focus on dehumanization because it is a key feature of intergroup conflict. In Studies 1–6, participants completed measures of dehumanization from their own perspectives and also from the perspective of God, rating the groups’ humanity as they thought God would rate it, or wish for them to rate it. When participants completed measures from both their own and God’s perspectives, they reported believing that, compared with their own views, God would see (or prefer for them to see) outgroup members as more human. In Study 7, we extend these findings by demonstrating that thinking about God’s views reduces the extent to which religious believers personally dehumanize outgroup members. Collectively, results demonstrate that religious believers attribute universalizing moral attitudes to God, compared to themselves, and document how thinking about God’s views can promote more positive intergroup attitudes.
AB - In seven studies, six with American Christians and one with Israeli Jews (total N = 2,323), we examine how and when belief in moralizing gods influences dehumanization of ethno-religious outgroups. We focus on dehumanization because it is a key feature of intergroup conflict. In Studies 1–6, participants completed measures of dehumanization from their own perspectives and also from the perspective of God, rating the groups’ humanity as they thought God would rate it, or wish for them to rate it. When participants completed measures from both their own and God’s perspectives, they reported believing that, compared with their own views, God would see (or prefer for them to see) outgroup members as more human. In Study 7, we extend these findings by demonstrating that thinking about God’s views reduces the extent to which religious believers personally dehumanize outgroup members. Collectively, results demonstrate that religious believers attribute universalizing moral attitudes to God, compared to themselves, and document how thinking about God’s views can promote more positive intergroup attitudes.
KW - Dehumanization
KW - Intergroup relations
KW - Religion
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U2 - 10.1037/xge0001206
DO - 10.1037/xge0001206
M3 - Article
C2 - 35389741
AN - SCOPUS:85130589115
SN - 0096-3445
JO - Journal of Experimental Psychology: General
JF - Journal of Experimental Psychology: General
ER -