Faculty Sponsor(s)
Megan Kozak Williams and Kay Livesay
Subject Area
Psychology
Description
Dehumanization, the perception of others as less than fully human, frequently emerges in contexts of intergroup conflict. Drawing on Haslam's (2006) two-factor model distinguishing mechanistic and animalistic dehumanization, this study examined how U.S. adults perceive Israelis and Palestinians amid the ongoing Israeli-Gaza conflict, with political affiliation explored as a potential moderating variable. A sample of 210 participants (98 Democrats, 110 Republicans) rated both groups on dehumanization and liking measures using anchored sliding scales. Contrary to expectations, dehumanization items did not load onto two distinct factors; instead, a single composite measure demonstrated adequate reliability (α = .787). Results indicated that Palestinians were dehumanized significantly more than Israelis. Higher dehumanization was also significantly associated with lower liking. Political affiliation emerged as a meaningful moderator: Republicans showed significantly greater dehumanization of Palestinians compared to the neutral midpoint, while Democrats did not differ significantly from neutral. These findings highlight how partisan identity may shape perceptions of humanity during conflict, with implications for public support, media framing, and humanitarian aid attitudes.
Recommended Citation
Pressman, Margot; Richards, Faith; and Medina, Ainsley, "Partisan Perceptions of Humanity: Dehumanization of Israelis and Palestinians by U.S. Adults" (2026). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 39.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2026/all/39
Partisan Perceptions of Humanity: Dehumanization of Israelis and Palestinians by U.S. Adults
Dehumanization, the perception of others as less than fully human, frequently emerges in contexts of intergroup conflict. Drawing on Haslam's (2006) two-factor model distinguishing mechanistic and animalistic dehumanization, this study examined how U.S. adults perceive Israelis and Palestinians amid the ongoing Israeli-Gaza conflict, with political affiliation explored as a potential moderating variable. A sample of 210 participants (98 Democrats, 110 Republicans) rated both groups on dehumanization and liking measures using anchored sliding scales. Contrary to expectations, dehumanization items did not load onto two distinct factors; instead, a single composite measure demonstrated adequate reliability (α = .787). Results indicated that Palestinians were dehumanized significantly more than Israelis. Higher dehumanization was also significantly associated with lower liking. Political affiliation emerged as a meaningful moderator: Republicans showed significantly greater dehumanization of Palestinians compared to the neutral midpoint, while Democrats did not differ significantly from neutral. These findings highlight how partisan identity may shape perceptions of humanity during conflict, with implications for public support, media framing, and humanitarian aid attitudes.