Values and Morals in the Dehumanisation of Asylum Seekers

Abstract

Asylum seekers face unique forms of prejudice and negative attitudes in industrialised countries, and are frequently viewed with suspicion and hostility. Depictions of asylum seekers as amoral and uncivilised can promote perceptions that they are less than fully human. This humanness denial can lead to a range of negative outcomes, such as the rationalisation of poor treatment and hard-line policies, and lack of concern or disengagement from their suffering. The present research systematically investigated how an individual's values or morals may relate to these perceptions of asylum seekers as comparatively more animal-like or less human, and drew on a range of well-established theories in these areas. The first chapter reviews theories and previous research that create a foundation for the project. The results of empirical investigations of the research questions that arise from this foundation are reported in journal article form comprising studies reported in Chapters 2 to 5. The final chapter presents an overall integration of the findings generated by the project with theoretical foundations and previous empirical findings.