Across eight studies (and two additional supplemental studies), we investigate possible bidirectional causal links between dehumanization and exploitation (total = 5923). Participants were less opposed to the exploitation of mechanistically dehumanized workers – i.e., workers perceived to lack traits central to human nature like emotionality and warmth – than other workers (Studies 1–5). The effects of mechanistic dehumanization on exploitation judgments were statistically explained by perceptions that mechanistically dehumanized workers are more capable of enduring experiences that typically elicit suffering and hardship (Studies 2–4). We also found evidence against several other possible explanations for the effects of mechanistic dehumanization on exploitation judgments (i.e., competence, dependability, likeability; Studies 2–4). In addition, we found consistent evidence for the reverse causal pathway: Workers who are exploited – relative to workers who are not exploited – are more likely to be attributed qualities indicative of mechanistic dehumanization (Studies 6–8; Supplemental Studies 1–2). The effects across studies were invariant to job type, the perceived race/ethnicity and gender of the target worker, and the specific case of exploitation. In addition, the relationships between dehumanization and exploitation judgments were specific to the mechanistic form of dehumanization and not the animalistic form – i.e., perceiving others as lacking traits that distinguish humans from animals like self-control, rationality, civility. These bidirectional causal relations between mechanistic dehumanization and exploitation have the potential to create a vicious cycle of suffering and unfair treatment for certain workers.

中文翻译：

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劳动剥削背景下动物性非人化与机械性非人化之间的分离


在八项研究（以及另外两项补充研究）中，我们调查了非人化与剥削之间可能存在的双向因果关系（总计 = 5923）。与其他工人相比，参与者不太反对剥削机械地非人性化的工人，即被认为缺乏人性核心特征（如情感和温暖）的工人（研究 1-5）。机械非人化对剥削判断的影响可以从统计学上解释为机械非人化工人更有能力忍受通常会引起痛苦和困难的经历（研究2-4）。我们还发现了反对机械非人化对剥削判断影响的其他几种可能解释的证据（即能力、可靠性、可爱性；研究 2-4）。此外，我们发现了反向因果路径的一致证据：被剥削的工人——相对于未被剥削的工人——更有可能被归因于机械性非人化的品质（研究 6-8；补充研究 1-2）。各项研究的影响与工作类型、目标工人的种族/民族和性别以及具体的剥削案例无关。此外，非人化和剥削判断之间的关系特定于非人化的机械形式，而不是动物主义形式——即认为他人缺乏区分人类和动物的特征，如自我控制、理性、文明。机械性非人化和剥削之间的双向因果关系有可能给某些工人造成痛苦和不公平待遇的恶性循环。