Research
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Seeing others as a disease: The impact of physical (but not moral) disgust on biologization
Abstract
Through three studies (N = 306), we analyzed the association between physical disgust and implicit biologization - the perception of others as disease organisms. In doing so, we employed an adapted version of the Semantic Misattribution ...
Publication · June 30, 2025
Loneliness, escapism and identification with media characters: An exploration of the psychological factors underlying binge-watching tendency
Abstract
Nowadays, binge-watching (i.e., watching multiple episodes of a TV series in one session) has become a widespread practice of media consumption, raising concerns about its negative outcomes. Nevertheless, previous research has overlooked...
Publication · June 30, 2025
Intergroup biologization and outgroup prejudice in the time of COVID-19
Abstract
Through two studies (N = 602) conducted in Italy between February and March 2020, we examined the impact of the COVID-19 emergency on biologization - a form of dehumanization that involves the perception of others as contagious entities ...
Publication · June 30, 2025
Burnout and workplace dehumanization at the supermarket: A field study during the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy
Abstract
This study explores the psychological effects of the COVID-19 emergency on workers employed in the supermarket sector by analyzing their levels of burnout and the relationship between burnout syndrome and employees' workplace experiences...
Publication · June 30, 2025
Gender stereotypes and sexualization in Italian children's television advertisements
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to examine gender stereotypes and sexualization in Italian television advertisements aimed at children. For this purpose, content analysis method was used to analyze 185 commercials broadcast from 6...
Publication · June 30, 2025
The impacts of COVID-19 on the relationship between perceived economic inequality and political action among socioeconomic classes
Abstract
Economic inequality qualifies as a structural characteristic leading to political action, albeit this relationship manifests differently across socioeconomic classes. COVID-19 pandemic has amplified existing economic inequalities in ways...
Publication · June 30, 2025
Effects of objective and subjective indicators of economic inequality on subjective well-being: Underlying mechanisms
Abstract
Much research found that economic inequality - the dispersion of incomes distribution among individuals in a society - affects subjective well-being (SWB). As a meta-analysis has shown, the association between economic inequality, common...
Publication · June 30, 2025
A twofold subjective measure of income inequality
Abstract
Social scientists have been aiming to calculate a "subjective income Gini coefficient" of survey respondents that would describe their beliefs about income inequality in their country. Niehues (2014) derives this estimate from respondent...
Publication · June 30, 2025
On the indirect link between virus anthropomorphism and health behavior: Evidence from the pandemic
Abstract
Experts and laypeople often describe pathogens and diseases by attributing to these nonhuman entities human-related qualities, mind states, intentions, and emotions (i.e., anthropomorphism). By taking advantage of the last pandemic, the ...
Publication · June 30, 2025
Measuring subjective inequality: Development and validation of the Perceived Economic Inequality Scale (PEIS)
Abstract
The main goal of the present research is to develop and validate the Perceived Economic Inequality Scale (PEIS), an instrument measuring individuals' perceptions of economic inequality at the national level. The study was conducted on a ...
Publication · June 30, 2025