Outgroup threat and opportunity to derogate: A social neuroscience approach
Intergroup communication is at the core of intergroup relations. Studies demonstrate that intergroup threat and having an opportunity to derogate the outgroup result in heightened cortisol levels. However, biomarkers associated with different stress systems may show distinct patterns under the same...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Sciendo
2023-01-01
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Series: | Psychology of Language and Communication |
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.58734/plc-2023-0006 |
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author | Collins Katherine Barbeau Kheana Sampasivam Simnthujaa Bielajew Catherine Clément Richard |
author_facet | Collins Katherine Barbeau Kheana Sampasivam Simnthujaa Bielajew Catherine Clément Richard |
author_sort | Collins Katherine |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Intergroup communication is at the core of intergroup relations. Studies demonstrate that intergroup threat and having an opportunity to derogate the outgroup result in heightened cortisol levels. However, biomarkers associated with different stress systems may show distinct patterns under the same conditions. We investigated whether perceptions of threat and the opportunity to derogate would result in an increase in alpha-amylase levels. White Canadian university students (N = 77) read discriminatory or favorable comments that Chinese individuals made towards Canadians. Subsequently, they were given the opportunity to derogate the outgroup. Salivary alpha-amylase was collected at baseline, following the threat, and after the opportunity to derogate. Participants showed an alpha-amylase response to threat, albeit delayed, but no further increase in concentration values due to derogation. The findings illustrate the impact of intergroup communication on physiological stress as well as the importance of using multiple biomarkers to elucidate that relationship. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:02:50Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-872bb74ccb9547d187093c32427f8af7 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2083-8506 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:02:50Z |
publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
publisher | Sciendo |
record_format | Article |
series | Psychology of Language and Communication |
spelling | doaj.art-872bb74ccb9547d187093c32427f8af72024-01-29T08:54:17ZengSciendoPsychology of Language and Communication2083-85062023-01-0127110712710.58734/plc-2023-0006Outgroup threat and opportunity to derogate: A social neuroscience approachCollins Katherine0Barbeau Kheana1Sampasivam Simnthujaa2Bielajew Catherine3Clément Richard41Department of Psychology and Health Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Canada2Psychology, University of Ottawa, Canada2Psychology, University of Ottawa, Canada2Psychology, University of Ottawa, Canada2Psychology, University of Ottawa, CanadaIntergroup communication is at the core of intergroup relations. Studies demonstrate that intergroup threat and having an opportunity to derogate the outgroup result in heightened cortisol levels. However, biomarkers associated with different stress systems may show distinct patterns under the same conditions. We investigated whether perceptions of threat and the opportunity to derogate would result in an increase in alpha-amylase levels. White Canadian university students (N = 77) read discriminatory or favorable comments that Chinese individuals made towards Canadians. Subsequently, they were given the opportunity to derogate the outgroup. Salivary alpha-amylase was collected at baseline, following the threat, and after the opportunity to derogate. Participants showed an alpha-amylase response to threat, albeit delayed, but no further increase in concentration values due to derogation. The findings illustrate the impact of intergroup communication on physiological stress as well as the importance of using multiple biomarkers to elucidate that relationship.https://doi.org/10.58734/plc-2023-0006outgroup derogationthreatstress responsealpha-amylasesocial neuroscience |
spellingShingle | Collins Katherine Barbeau Kheana Sampasivam Simnthujaa Bielajew Catherine Clément Richard Outgroup threat and opportunity to derogate: A social neuroscience approach Psychology of Language and Communication outgroup derogation threat stress response alpha-amylase social neuroscience |
title | Outgroup threat and opportunity to derogate: A social neuroscience approach |
title_full | Outgroup threat and opportunity to derogate: A social neuroscience approach |
title_fullStr | Outgroup threat and opportunity to derogate: A social neuroscience approach |
title_full_unstemmed | Outgroup threat and opportunity to derogate: A social neuroscience approach |
title_short | Outgroup threat and opportunity to derogate: A social neuroscience approach |
title_sort | outgroup threat and opportunity to derogate a social neuroscience approach |
topic | outgroup derogation threat stress response alpha-amylase social neuroscience |
url | https://doi.org/10.58734/plc-2023-0006 |
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