Perception Of Social Groups Research Articles

Can We Counteract Hate? Effects of Online Hate Speech and Counter Speech on the Perception of Social Groups

Hate speech can increase stereotyped thinking and social distancing in a society. However, there is still a lack of variety in the social groups under study and research into possible solutions to the problem. Thus, our aim is to (1) study effects of hate speech against Chinese people and transgender people and (2) to investigate if counter speech can offset the detrimental effects of hate speech. We conducted a pre-registered online experiment with a 2 × 3 between-subject design, varying the attacked group (Chinese people/transgender people) and the type of comments (neutral/hate speech/hate speech and counter speech) for an Austrian sample ( n = 1285). Findings reveal no effect of hate speech on the dependent variables, indicating that citizens might not be as vulnerable to hate speech after all. However, counter speech has a polarizing effect: attitudinal gaps and differences for social distancing increase between left-wing and right-wing participants if hate speech is countered.

Extending the social category label effect to stigmatized groups: Lesbian and gay people’s reactions to “homosexual” as a label

The social category label effect describes how labels influence people’s perceptions of social groups. Though the label “homosexual” versus “lesbian/gay” decreases some heterosexual people’s support for sexual minorities, it is unknown how lesbian and gay (LG) people respond to “homosexual” as a label used to describe them. Across three experiments in a largely U.S. context (Total N = 831), we examined how use of “homosexual” influenced people’s responses on psychological instruments, preferences for demographic questions, and evaluations of individuals who use “homosexual.” The use of different labels in psychological measures did not influence LG people’s responses (Study 1). However, LG people reacted less positively to “homosexual” compared to “lesbian/gay” in demographic questions and in interpersonal exchanges (Studies 2-3), whereas heterosexual people’s reactions were largely unaffected (Study 2). LG people’s more negative reactions to “homosexual” than “lesbian/gay” were partially explained by them perceiving the “homosexual” label user as less culturally competent (i.e., less inclusive, less engaged in LGBTQ activism). In this article, we make progress in new empirical territory (sexual orientation-based cues research), propose the notion of linguistic heterosexism, and discuss the sociopolitical implications of people’s language choices.

Perceptions of the Targets and Sources of COVID-19 Threat are Structured by Group Memberships and Responses are Influenced by Identification with Humankind.

The purpose of this study was to investigate which social groups are perceived as a threat target and which are perceived as a threat source during the COVID-19 outbreak. In a German sample (N = 1454) we examined perceptions of social groups ranging from those that are psychologically close and smaller (family, friends, neighbors) to those that are more distal and larger (people living in Germany, humankind). We hypothesized that psychologically closer groups would be perceived as less affected by COVID-19 as well as less threatening than more psychologically distal groups. Based on social identity theorizing, we also hypothesized that stronger identification with humankind would change these patterns. Furthermore, we explored how these threat perceptions relate to adherence to COVID-19 health guidelines. In line with our hypotheses, latent random-slope modelling revealed that psychologically distal and larger groups were perceived as more affected by COVID-19 and as more threatening than psychologically closer and smaller groups. Including identification with humankind as a predictor into the threat target model resulted in a steeper increase in threat target perception patterns, whereas identification with humankind did not predict differences in threat source perceptions. Additionally, an increase in threat source perceptions across social groups was associated with more adherence to health guidelines, whereas an increase in threat target perceptions was not. We fully replicated these findings in a subgroup from the original sample (N = 989) four weeks later. We argue that societal recovery from this and other crises will be supported by an inclusive approach informed by a sense of our common identity as human beings.

Large Gatherings? No, Thank You. Devaluation of Crowded Social Scenes During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In most European countries, the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (spring 2020) led to the imposition of physical distancing rules, resulting in a drastic and sudden reduction of real-life social interactions. Even people not directly affected by the virus itself were impacted in their physical and/or mental health, as well as in their financial security, by governmental lockdown measures. We investigated whether the combination of these events had changed people's appraisal of social scenes by testing 241 participants recruited mainly in Italy, Austria, and Germany in an online, preregistered study conducted about 50 days after the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe. Images depicting individuals alone, in small groups (up to four people), and in large groups (more than seven people) were rated in terms of valence, arousal, and perceived physical distance. Pre-pandemic normative ratings were obtained from a validated database (OASIS). Several self-report measures were also taken, and condensed into four factors through factor analysis. All images were rated as more arousing compared to the pre-pandemic period, and the greater the decrease in real-life physical interactions reported by participants, the higher the ratings of arousal. As expected, only images depicting large gatherings of people were rated less positively during, compared to before, the pandemic. These ratings of valence were, however, moderated by a factor that included participants' number of days in isolation, relationship closeness, and perceived COVID-19 threat. Higher scores on this factor were associated with more positive ratings of images of individuals alone and in small groups, suggesting an increased appreciation of safer social situations, such as intimate and small-group contacts. The same factor was inversely related to the perceived physical distance between individuals in images of small and large groups, suggesting an impact of lockdown measures and contagion-related worries on the representation of interpersonal space. These findings point to rapid and compelling psychological and social consequences of the lockdown measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic on the perception of social groups. Further studies should assess the long-term impact of such events as typical everyday life is restored.

Стереотипизация как механизм социальной перцепции в условиях межкультурного и межэтнического взаимодействия

The study presents an analysis of the content of social perception from the perspective of a socio-psychological approach, which considers this phe-nomenon as a complex process of perception, un-derstanding and evaluation of social objects repre-senting other people, themselves, groups and social communities. The analysis of patterns of perception of social groups as selectivity and design is pre-sented. The paper reveals the structure of social perception in the conditions of interethnic interac-tion, which allows us to speak about the ethno-cultural features of social perception. One of the psychological mechanisms of social perception, stereotyping, which manifests itself in the process of establishing and maintaining interethnic relations is analyzed. The author pays special attention to the consideration of auto-and-hetero-ethnic stereotypes that reflect the ethno-cultural features of social per-ception, their formation and acquisition, as well as their positive and negative impact on the perception of their own and other ethno-cultural communities.

Decoding the neural representation of self and person knowledge with multivariate pattern analysis and data-driven approaches.

Multivariate pattern analysis and data-driven approaches to understand how the human brain encodes sensory information and higher level conceptual knowledge have become increasingly dominant in visual and cognitive neuroscience; however, it is only in recent years that these methods have been applied to the domain of social information processing. This review examines recent research in the field of social cognitive neuroscience focusing on how multivariate pattern analysis (e.g., pattern classification, representational similarity analysis) and data-driven methods (e.g., reverse correlation, intersubject correlation) have been used to decode and characterize high-level information about the self, other persons, and social groups. We begin with a review of what is known about how self-referential processing and person perception are represented in the medial prefrontal cortex based on conventional activation-based neuroimaging approaches. This is followed by a nontechnical overview of current multivariate pattern-based and data-driven neuroimaging methods designed to characterize and/or decode neural representations. The remainder of the review focuses on examining how these methods have been applied to the topic of self, person perception, and the perception of social groups. In this review, we highlight recent trends (e.g., analysis of social networks, decoding race and social groups, and the use of naturalistic stimuli) and discuss several theoretical challenges that arise from the application of these new methods to the question of how the brain represents knowledge about the self and others. This article is categorized under: Neuroscience > Cognition.

Public perception on measures needed for the ecological restoration of Grecian juniper silvopastoral woodlands

The Grecian juniper silvopastoral woodland is considered very rare in the European context. It is restricted in north-western Greece (Prespa basin), and the type of habitat they support is a priority one, according to the EU Directive 92/43/EEC. Last decades, due to abandonment of traditional practices (fuel-wood cutting and livestock grazing) the woodland appears to decline. The most important threat for the Prespa juniper woodland seems to be the invasion of deciduous broad-leaved species. The LIFE+ JunEx project set in its mail goals the restoration of the woodland through specific concrete actions that support and promote the traditional uses of woodland resources, like grazing. The purpose of the study was to explore the views of social and institutional groups operating around the silvopastoral woodland and the formulation of measures that contribute to its ecological restoration. The first phase of the research (February 2014) was conducted with questionnaires addressed to social groups in the region. It was found that the main factors forming the perception of social groups are (a) the advantages and benefits of the habitat type (15.8%), (b) threats (14.9%), (c) interdisciplinary complementarity of livestock management and Forestry (9.2%), (d) cost effectiveness (8.6%), (e) present condition (8.6%), and (f) direct degradation of wood-standing capital (7.5%). The second phase of the research (June 2016) included a simulation exercise on the institutional environment of the LIFE+ JunEx project actions and held within a summer school. It was found that common factors affect the perception of societal and institutional groups with emphasis on the economic benefits and the interdisciplinary complementarity of livestock management and forestry.

Nature, Human Nature, and Human Difference: Race in Early Modern Philosophy

Nature, Human Nature, and Human Difference: Race in Early Modern Philosophy

Compensation in intergroup relations: An investigation of its structural and strategic foundations

Recent work in intergroup relations stresses the role of two fundamental dimensions, competence and warmth, which organize the perception of social groups. A pattern often encountered in people's ratings is one of compensation in that a group that is evaluated higher than another group on one of the two fundamental dimensions is also judged lower on the other fundamental dimension. Based on Social Identity Theory, the present work extends previous research on compensation by examining boundary conditions as well as underlying psychological processes. Two studies involving experimental and correlational evidence, minimal and real groups, and different kinds of conflict, reveal that compensation is more likely when the groups are in asymmetrical relation and share a cooperative view of the intergroup setting. Our data also suggest that, among members of low status groups, compensation is associated with social creativity. In contrast, and in line with the 'noblesse oblige' effect, members of the high status group would seem to rely on compensation as a means to appear non-discriminatory.

ATRIBUCIONES ESTEREOTÍPICAS DE CALIDEZ Y HABILIDAD EN JÓVENES UNIVERSITARIOS

The present study tests the two-dimensional model of stereotype content proposed by Fiske, Cudy, Glick and Xu (2002) among 121 Costa Rican students. Results show that warmth and ability represent two underling principles of the stereotypical perception of social groups. Both, warmth and ability differentiate four stereotypical perceptions (paternalistic stereotypes, contemptuous prejudice, envious stereotypes and admiration), and relate to different perceptions, evaluations, and emotions that regulate social interactions.

University Students’ Perceptions of Social differences and different Social Groups in Turkey: A Pilot Study

This descriptive study aims to understand university students’ perceptions of social differences and different social groups in Turkey in addition to the sources from which they acquire such perceptions. As a part of a larger project at Akdeniz University (2011.01.0116.002), 37 students were given a questionnaire containing 40 Likert-type questions. The questions interrogated four main domains, namely, which qualities or habits are perceived as social differences, resources from which the participants acquire their perceptions, participants’ perceptions of some social groups in Turkey, and participants’ perceptions of their families’ and social environments’ attitudes towards social differences. Descriptive statistical analyses were carried out and the results inform us about the social groups towards which university students hold negative perceptions along with the sources of such negative perceptions. The results also call for the need for intervention of university administrators and curriculum designers to change such negative perceptions.

Political Socialization and Group-Centrism

The lasting impact of pre-adult experiences has been shown to affect a number of long-term political orientations, such as partisanship, issue opinions, and trust in government. In this project, I examine the effects of pre-adult experiences on perceptions of social groups, the persistence of those orientations over time, and the extent to which said orientations influence public opinion. Building from previous literature demonstrating the powerful effects group sentiment has on public opinion, this project seeks to determine the extent these orientations are developed in early adulthood, as opposed to over time. I test this expectation using the waves of the Political Socialization Study, examining the over-time relationship between youth perceptions of social groups, parental perceptions of groups, and opinion on issues arguably connected to those groups.

Livelihood Transitions and the Changing Nature of Farmer–Herder Conflict in Sahelian West Africa

The accommodation of livestock husbandry with crop agriculture is crucial for the future of the West African Sahel. Present trends are leading to greater restrictions on livestock husbandry and a growing convergence of livelihood practices among groups whose identities are tied to herding and farming. Using the cases of four rural communities in Niger, this study adopts an ‘access to resources’ framework to analyse the causal connections among: rural peoples' livelihood strategies, everyday social relations of production, perceptions of social groups' identities, and the potential for farmer–herder conflict. While the convergence of livelihoods arguably increases the frequency of conflict triggers, it has also, through the expansion of shared common interests and cross-group, production-related relationships, improved the ability of communities to effectively manage these incipient conflicts.

Culture and Stereotyping Processes: Integration and New Directions

Stereotyping is one of the largest and most enduring research areas in social and personality psychology; many of the processes by which stereotypes are formed, maintained, and applied are now well understood. Yet, little is known about the degree to which stereotyping processes apply outside of North American and Western European contexts. This theoretical paper aims to serve as a starting point for researchers interested in the intersection of culture and stereotyping. We review the nascent literature documenting similarities and differences in intergroup perception across cultural groups and note areas in which the cross-cultural and stereotyping literatures have explored common mechanisms that could be profitably integrated. Finally, we offer suggestions for future research that will greatly improve our understanding of how culturally influenced cognitive tendencies influence the perception of social groups and their members.

Institutional Vulnerability to Social Constructions

This article contributes to efforts to integrate power-based, institutionalist, and constructivist perspectives on policy making. Using an analysis of policy designs for assisted reproductive technology, the authors argue that jurisdictional federations are more vulnerable to social constructions based on widely held perceptions of social groups than functional federations and, to a lesser extent, unitary states. In fact, policy makers in jurisdictional federations tend to rely on communicative discourses aimed at convincing a wide public, whereas those in functional federations need coordinative discourses to obtain the support of actors who play key roles in decision making. Where coordinative discourses prevail over communicative discourses, policy makers will more likely target advantaged groups with restrictive policies.

¿Cómo enfrentar los déficit sociales de América Latina? Acerca de mitos, ideas renovadoras y el papel de la cultura

<p>La situación social actual en América Latina se caracteriza no sólo por déficits estrictamente económicos, sino también, y como consecuencia de los primeros, por déficits en áreas clave vinculadas con la vida cotidiana de la mayoría de la población. El aumento en la magnitud y profundidad de los procesos de pauperización en la región se ha intensificado en la última década resultando en una serie de círculos viciosos sociales y económicos (crecimiento relativo y absoluto de la pobreza que afecta con especial énfasis al sector infantil; la creciente feminización de la pobreza; incremento en índices delictivos, etcétera) que implican a las políticas públicas emprendidas con vistas a, paradójicamente, solucionar los problemas, a este panorama han contribuido algunos mitos que reconstruye el autor como la teoría del derrame, la perspectiva reduccionista del desarrollo, la concepción de gasto social y no de inversión social, entre otros.</p> Este trabajo se propone llamar la atención acerca de la necesidad de abrir y explorar sistemáticamente las vinculaciones entre situación social/respuestas posibles/marcos culturales. Su objetivo está limitado a presentar el tema para invitar a su indagación detallada. Para ello se trazará un perfil sumario de la situación social de la región; se identificarán los mitos bloqueadores de la superación de los problemas y, por último, se señalarán líneas de trabajo sobre posibles aportes desde lo cultura] para la comprensión de la problemática social.

Language and Intergroup Perception in Spain

With the background of the multilingual situation in Spain, which has undergone a very rapid change in the past decade, this study centres in the intergroup perception of social groups who share Castilian (Spanish) with their own ethnic languages, Catalan, Basque, Galician or Valencian. A sample of 165 university students answered several questions related to language competence, attitudes, social status and ingroup social identity. Using the matched-guise technique they also evaluated speakers representative of the five linguistic communities. Results show that the content of social categories (stereotypes) and language attitudes vary according to ingroup social identity and subjective vitality of their languages.

Speech norms and perceptions of ethno‐linguistic group differences: Toward a conceptual and research framework

AbstractPerceptions of social group membership are crucial both to social behaviour generally, and to social conflict: The basis for ingroup versus outgroup distinctions and the personal and social significance of such judgments are thus important areas of study. This paper describes a model of social norms as it applies to speech use and, in particular, the role of speech in perceptions of social groups. The context of this discussion is a general research and conceptual framework for studying perceptions of and reactions to social group differences. The framework is in three stages, consisting of the recognition of group differences, the ‘definition’ or evaluative interpretation of a given speech act, and the development of a ‘problem resolution’ or social change strategy. Social group distinctions are hypothesized to be based on shared norms, modelled here as structured expectancies regarding the behaviour appropriate to specific social contexts. Norms are seen as varying in their content, i.e. the specific behaviours that are socially evaluated, in their clarity, which controls the strength and certainty of social judgments based on norms, and in the size and nature of the social group sharing a given norm. The specific components of the norm model are discussed in light of existing data on language behaviour. The second stage of the model is briefly discussed via social psychological judgments that are hypothesized to control responses to a given speech event. This framework is hoped to have heuristic value in studying language use and social processes.

Locational Analysis and the Perception of Social Groups at Chisalin, Guatemala

In his comment, Charles Ward offers several criticisms of our (Carmack and Weeks 1981) attempt to isolate prehistoric social groups at Chisalin. He emphasizes two points: (1) the inapplicability of nearest neighbor analyses at the intrasite level, and (2) the replicability of our results. Since Ward's comments indicate a midunderstanding of both the objectives and analytical procedures of our work, it is worthwhile to elaborate and clarify these points. One of the important objectives of our work at Chisalin, and other highland Quiche Maya sites as well, has been to identify and define Prehispanic social groups in terms of architectural surface criteria and to investigate how these aggregates articulated within a larger site structure through predominately spatial relationships. It has been assumed that human occupation is essentially focal in character and that observable site form or structure will be related to the organization of the social system that created it (Abler et al. 1971; Fletcher 1981; Kuper 1972). Further, it is suggested that changes in one will necessarily affect transformations in the other. Since it is necessary to understand how one system functioned before suggesting how it changed, the immediate goal was to construct a specific structural model of the site using a variety of analytical techniques. The functional identification of architectural and nonarchitectural units was a principal consideration. Using observable morphological attributes of unexcavated mound height, summit surface area, and relative location, the nature of mound form variation was determined. On the basis of these criteria, mounds at Chisalin were collapsed for analysis into 12 formal categories; these comprised primary excavation sampling units. As stated in our paper, predominate mound functions were determined on the basis of architectural criteria, artifact inventories, and ethnohistoric/ethnographic inferences. Initially only two possibilities were considered: (1) permanent or semipermanent residential and (2) ritual constructions. Using these two functional categories, it was possible to construct a generalized land-use model. As Ward notes, even a cursory examination of the site plan would indicate that mound forms at Chisalin comprise a relatively compact cluster group. Furthermore, mounds and groups of mounds are not randomly distributed across the site. Thus, the essential problem is one of defining intrasite settlement distribution. There are no a priori reasons why at least some of the approaches and models used by modern geographers for analyzing urban settlement patterns cannot be used to investigate spatial distributions characterized by tinamit-type settlements in the Guatemala highlands. The behavioral premises upon which these models rest, as outlined by Garner (1967), apply as well to such settlement situations. The nearest neighbor analysis offers a convenient method of point pattern description that allows an objective comparison between observed and expected distances from a Poisson probability function. However, although our analysis indicates a clustered distribution, the factors that produced such a pattern are not indicated. At a regional level of analysis obviously there are correlations of site location with such environmental factors as topography, water accessibility, soil productivity, and so forth. Factors operating at intrasite and local levels of analysis are more difficult to define. A plot of all first nearest neighbor values indicates a range of values from 0 through 30 with most found in a mode less than 6 m. A series of boundaries imposed upon the site plan around unexcavated mounds which are 6 m or less from their first nearest neighbors are illustrated in