Prejudices are more complex than stereotypes suggest

According to social psychologists, individuals who belong to one’s own group, as well as those associated with highly esteemed and approachable groups, more often elicit admiration or respect compared to those who belong to less esteemed or perceived-as-distant groups. New brain research shows that the emotions people evoke depend not only on the social group, but also on the emotional expression and the distance from the viewer. 

The study will be published in NeuroImage on 1 October, and researcher Gloria Mendoza‑Franco has defended her doctoral thesis on the topic at Aalto University on 28 September.

'We found that emotional reactions between groups are complex, and even people perceived as part of the in-group can trigger a wide range of feelings. This is influenced, for example, by the other person’s emotional state and how close or far away they are from us,' says Mendoza‑Franco.

The research builds on the Stereotype Content Model developed in social psychology, which examines how people respond to difference. According to the model, we judge members of out-groups based on our perceptions of their willingness and capabilities to harm members of the in-group. The neuroscience team added functional MRI (fMRI) and a machine‑learning algorithm trained to recognise emotions linked to prejudice.

Emotional reactions linked to prejudice are more varied than assumed

According to Mendoza-Franco’s research, only an in‑group member who appeared happy, or displayed positive intentions evoked admiration or respect in the viewer. An out‑group member was not admired in the experiment; however, when smiling they could elicit compassion —an emotion implying sympathy— even though their competence was not trusted. Across groups, anger eliminated positive emotions. Physical distance to the person also shaped viewer’s feelings.

'From a distance, there is hardly any difference to detect. Differences only really emerge when a person starts moving toward the viewer,' Mendoza‑Franco notes.

Professor of Social Psychology Inga Jasinskaja‑Lahti from the University of Helsinki says that the new study has enabled the researchers to examine a broader range of emotional responses than before.

In the study, 41 Finnish participants watched short videos of Finns (in‑group) and of Pakistanis and Somalis (out‑groups) while undergoing fMRI scanning. In the videos, people first looked at the camera from a distance and then moved toward the viewer.

Pakistanis and Somalis were included alongside Finns because prior studies have found discrimination and prejudices directed towards them.

'However, in our study we are not making claims about Pakistanis and Somalis or how they are viewed in Finnish society. They serve as examples of groups that face prejudices and discrimination in our research,' Mendoza‑Franco says.

Contact information:

Gloria Mendoza-Franco
Researcher
Aalto University
gloria.mendozafranco@aalto.fi

Iiro Jääskeläinen
Professor
Aalto University
iiro.jaaskelainen@aalto.fi
Tel: +358 50 560 9503

Article: Decoding emotional brain patterns during intergroup encounters: the role of emotional expressions and physical proximity in intergroup dynamics