The Sociofunctional Model of Prejudice: Questioning the Role of Emotions in the Threat-Behavior Link

Abstract

Prejudice has traditionally been defined as a general negative attitude toward outgroups (Allport, 1954). However, in previous decades, this view has been criticized for its inability to capture the diversity of (negative) feelings observed toward different groups (e.g.

Xenophobia and anti-immigrant attitudes in the time of COVID-19

“…Relatedly, individuals with higher pathogen-disgust sensitivity (i.e., people who report more disgust and anxiety toward potential pathogens, like people coughing) are less likely to support entry of both immigrants from an unspecified origin and immigrants from a nation associated with infectious disease (Ji et al, 2019), which is surely influencing attitudes toward immigrants and immigration in this time of COVID-19 vigilance. Indeed, recent evidence indicates that disgust mediates the relation between threat of contamination and avoidance/rejection of a group (Aubé & Ric, 2019).…”

Can past intergroup contact shape support for policies in a pandemic? Processes predicting endorsement of discriminatory Chinese restrictions during the COVID-19 crisis

“…The sociofunctional model identifies a total of five distinct threat-emotion profiles, including a contamination-disgust-rejection profile which suggests that outgroups elicit disgust when they are perceived to be a source of physical or moral contamination (Cottrell & Neuberg, 2005). Evidence for this profile is mixed, with studies suggesting that both disgust and fear result from contamination threat (Aubé & Ric, 2019;Johnston & Glasford, 2014). According to appraisal theories of emotion (Lazarus, 1991), if an intergroup encounter is appraised as posing danger and the person believes they may not survive the uncertain or existential threat before them, anxiety or fright may be a more likely emotional reaction than disgust to prevent contamination.…”

“…Evidence for this profile is mixed, with studies suggesting that both disgust and fear result from contamination threat (Aubé & Ric, 2019;Johnston & Glasford, 2014). According to appraisal theories of emotion (Lazarus, 1991), if an intergroup encounter is appraised as posing danger and the person believes they may not survive the uncertain or existential threat before them, anxiety or fright may be a more likely emotional reaction than disgust to prevent contamination.…”

Attitudes Towards Disability and Burnout among Teachers in Inclusive Schools in France

“…Conversely, implicit (i.e. less controllable) attitudes are hypothesised to be related to more spontaneous emotional reactions such as emotional exhaustion (Aubé & Ric, 2019;Rohmer & Louvet, 2018). Further research is therefore needed to explore the link between explicit attitudes, efficacy beliefs, self-efficacy, implicit attitudes, and emotions directly in the specific context of disability inclusion.…”

“…In the socio-psychological literature, attitude is consistently defined as a psychological tendency to evaluate an object with a certain degree of favour or disfavour (Eagly & Chaiken, 2007). Attitude can be viewed as an emotional reaction towards the object and can be considered as one on the most important factors that predict social behaviours (Aubé & Ric, 2019;Cuddy, Fiske, & Glick, 2007). Regarding specific attitudes towards inclusive education, some studies reported that teachers evaluate this policy positively but at the same time do not completely accept the 'zero reject' idea.…”