"We are people": ingroup humanization as an existential defense.
Prior research has shown the importance of humanness in shaping one's social identity, but no research has examined why this is the case. The present article reveals that humanizing the ingroup serves a terror management function. In 3 studies, Italian (Studies 1 and 2) and American (Study 3) participants humanized their own group more when their mortality was salient. In Study 3, humanizing the ingroup also functioned to reduce the accessibility of death thoughts. Together, these studies provide clear support for terror management theory as an explanatory framework for ingroup humanization.
Vaes
Jeroen
J
Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization (DPSS), University of Padova, Padova, Italy. jeroen.vaes@unipd.it
Heflick
Nathan A
NA
Goldenberg
Jamie L
JL
D000328:Adult; D001293:Attitude to Death; D003469:Culture; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005086:Existentialism; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires