Political Media & Dehumanization of the Self on Marginalized, Immigrant Populations
Mentor Information
Jamie Goldenberg (Department of Psychology)
Description
With the accessibility of the Internet, ideas and sentiments can spread quickly and to many who would not have access otherwise. With this accessibility also comes an everyday exposure to current events and political sentiments. The climate of the 2016 election and conversations about immigration spread anti-immigrant sentiment. This study attempted find if this everyday consumption of anti-immigrant sentiment causes marginalized immigrants (specifically Latinx and Muslim immigrants) to dehumanize themselves, and if these dehumanizing sentiments have an effect on mental health. This study composed anti-climate change (control) and anti-immigrant sentiment tweets, then asked participants to complete a measure of dehumanization of the self. To see the relationship between possible dehumanization of the self and mental health, participants were asked to complete the Beck Anxiety Inventory. The study concludes with future directions for the study and implications of results on the mental health of marginalized immigrants.
Political Media & Dehumanization of the Self on Marginalized, Immigrant Populations
With the accessibility of the Internet, ideas and sentiments can spread quickly and to many who would not have access otherwise. With this accessibility also comes an everyday exposure to current events and political sentiments. The climate of the 2016 election and conversations about immigration spread anti-immigrant sentiment. This study attempted find if this everyday consumption of anti-immigrant sentiment causes marginalized immigrants (specifically Latinx and Muslim immigrants) to dehumanize themselves, and if these dehumanizing sentiments have an effect on mental health. This study composed anti-climate change (control) and anti-immigrant sentiment tweets, then asked participants to complete a measure of dehumanization of the self. To see the relationship between possible dehumanization of the self and mental health, participants were asked to complete the Beck Anxiety Inventory. The study concludes with future directions for the study and implications of results on the mental health of marginalized immigrants.
