Prior research in dehumanization has elected to indirectly measure the extent to which individuals deny fundamental aspects of humanity to other groups. However, recent research suggests the study participants are more than willing to declare how human or unhuman like they feel various social groups are. An influential measure of assessing this blatant form of dehumanization is known as the Ascent of Human Scale (AOH). Despite much research providing evidence of blatant dehumanization towards out-groups, little research has specifically focused on testing assumptions pertaining to the scale’s administration or applying the scale to prior research settings. This thesis adds on the growing literature aimed at assessing methodological aspects of the AOH scale in addition to examining the relationship between blatant dehumanization and other psychological constructs. In study one, we build on prior work by manipulating the instructions participants typically see when giving ratings on the AOH. Results suggest that instructions do not appear to affect how participants rate social groups even when respondents are told the nature of the scale and what it is used for. In studies two and three we manipulate the extent to which a social group stands out amongst others on the AOH. Results reveal that group salience matters only when the in-group of participants is not present on the scale for rating. In studies four and five we examine the relationship between ascent dehumanization and social power, the ability to influence the behaviors of others. In study four we experimentally manipulate participants social power then have them rate various social groups on the AOH. In study five we measure respondents’ personal sense of power followed by social group ratings on the AOH. Results reveal that social power is not related to blatant dehumanization, challenging prior literature that has found a link between power and dehumanization in general. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / The work in this thesis adds to the literature on measuring blatant forms of dehumanization. Specifically, this thesis tests assumptions around the use of the Ascent of Human Scale (AOH), an influential measure in social psychology used to measure blatant dehumanization. In addition, we examine if applying the AOH to previous research that has found a link between dehumanization and other constructs reveals similar findings. In the first study, we manipulated the scale’s instructions presented to participants to examine if specific language impacts how respondents rate social groups on the AOH. Results found that instruction changes have no impact on how respondents rate social groups, even when told the scale is a measure of blatant dehumanization. In studies two and three we manipulate the extent to which a social group stands out amongst others on the AOH scale. Results indicate that when the in-group of study participants is included on the scale (study two) salience appears not to effect ratings. However, when the in-group of participants is not included on the scale (study three) salience does impact ratings such that the more a group stands out, the more they are dehumanized. Studies four and five examine the relationship between social power and ascent dehumanization. In study four we experimentally manipulate participants’ feelings of social power then allow them to rate various social groups on the AOH. In study five, respondents take a measure of personal feelings of power then provide AOH ratings for various social groups. Results from both studies reveal that social power does not impact ascent dehumanization. Taken together the work in this thesis addresses potential concerns regarding the use of the AOH and encourages the application of the scale to previous work to examine if blatant dehumanization is related to other constructs that dehumanization is argued to be central to.

Dehumanization is a process whereby people fail to view others as human beings. Instead, the others are perceived as nonhuman animals or objects, unworthy of the same moral treatment. Dehumanization has previously been studied in a variety of different scholarly domains without adhering to a uniform theoretical framework. This literature review contrasts research on fully humanized perception, with research on dehumanized perception, and proposes neural areas which are likely to be involved. Not every aspect of dehumanization can be understood at the neurological level. To understand what factors lead up to, and modulates dehumanization, other perspectives might also be necessary. Dehumanized perception is coupled with reduced activity in the social cognitive brain network, a wide network which encompasses several cortical and subcortical areas. This disengages prosocial abilities and allows for other people to be treated like objects and means to an end. One area of special interest is the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). It functions as an integration center in the person perception network and is also active when we make moral judgments, empathize, or take the perspective of someone else. For this reason, the MPFC is sometimes used as an index of dehumanized perception.

In an investigation of whether Goffman’s (1963) concept of the stigma of race is still relevant in understanding current social attitudes in 21st century America, this dissertation examines the link between Goffman’s (1963) concept of the stigma of race and research focused primarily on racism and prejudice. Six research questions examined different aspects of social attitudes among Americans: their view of people of other races, judgments toward those of minority racial groups, intergroup communication between people from different racial backgrounds, the influence of the media and other information sources, and the extent of the relationship between stigma and racism. The research included a between-subjects experimental design, Implicit Association Tests, and racism measures, including the social dominance orientation, right-wing authoritarianism, old-fashioned and modern racism, and blatant dehumanization scales, along with the stigma dimensions developed by Bresnahan and Zhuang (2011). Based on the findings, this study proposed new racial stigma dimensions to study the stigma of race. This study contributes to the theoretical and practical understanding around issues of stigma and race in the United States, has practical suggestions that may help guide the way to dismantle the forces that perpetuate the stigma of race, and provides encouragement to continue to seek a pathway to better intergroup communication, acceptance of diverse groups, and social equity. / Media & Communication