The Heaviness of Advantaged Members' Judgment: The Role of Meta‐Dehumanization and Relative Deprivation on Ethnic Minority Members' Collective Action

Abstract

This research investigates the roles of meta‐dehumanization (i.e., the belief that an outgroup holds dehumanizing views toward one's ingroup) and relative deprivation in the association between intergroup contact quality and collective action aimed at reducing inequalities. To these aims, the perspectives of Iraqi immigrants in Turkey (Study 1), African immigrants in Italy (Study 2) and North‐African second‐generation young adults in Belgium (Study 3) were assessed. Results showed a positive association between negative intergroup contact and collective action, both in terms of intentions and actual experiences, except for Study 3 involving second‐generation students who could experience relatively lower personal discontent. However, an indirect effect of meta‐dehumanization in the relationship between negative intergroup contact and collective action was consistently found across the studies. Moreover, ethnic minority members' perceived relative deprivation enhanced these associations. However, the moderation of relative deprivation in the association between positive intergroup contact and a specific form of engagement in social change, such as intergroup ex‐changes about social inequalities showed inconsistent findings. Overall, the research contributed to a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms and interplay between intergroup contact quality and predictors of collective action in more and less inclusive contexts. Results suggested that focusing on the perceived valence and, even more, the specific content of intergroup interactions may help to disentangle its role in improving social equality.