An Upside of Dehumanization? Dehumanization Facilitates Social Distancing from Contagious Others

Seven experiments (N = 5,815)—using pre-post and longitudinal designs prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic—demonstrate that potential carriers of contagious diseases are dehumanized. Dehumanization in turn predicts reduced social desirability and increased social distancing motivations. This suggests changing social perceptions may reduce risks posed by human sociality.