Victims, Vignettes, and Videos: Meta-Analytic and Experimental Evidence That Emotional Impact Enhances the Derogation of Innocent Victims

Rael J. Dawtry; Mitchell J. Callan; Annelie J. Harvey; Ana I. Gheorghiu

doi:10.1177/1088868320914208

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PsychologyN/A

intermediate

Victims, Vignettes, and Videos: Meta-Analytic and Experimental Evidence That Emotional Impact Enhances the Derogation of Innocent Victims

Rael J. Dawtry et al. (2020)

Published: Apr 22, 2020
Journal: Personality and Social Psychology Review · Vol. 24 · No. 3
DOI: 10.1177/1088868320914208

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At a GlanceAI

Meta-analysis and experiments show that emotionally vivid contexts strengthen observers’ derogation of innocent victims.

SummaryAI

This paper revisits the classic “victim derogation” effect (linked to just-world motives) and explains why recent findings have been mixed. A meta-analysis of 55 experiments indicates that larger derogation effects occur in contexts that are more emotionally impactful (e.g., real, vivid depictions), though this is partly confounded with older publication years. Two new experiments then directly test the mechanism and find that increasing emotional impact increases derogation of an innocent victim. The work clarifies when just-world-related victim blaming is most likely to emerge and highlights the role of emotionally engaging presentations of suffering.

Method SnapshotAI

A meta-analysis of prior experiments plus two new controlled experiments manipulating the emotional impact of victim contexts.

BackgroundAI

Basic social psychology of victim blaming and belief in a just world (just-world motives) and familiarity with experimental methods/meta-analysis.

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