Overheard hate speech spreads prejudice to bystanders, not just targets

Evidence

As noted earlier, the use of ethnophaulisms predicts the exclusion of immigrant outgroups (Mullen, 2004; Mullen & Rice, 2003). In addition, simply overhearing ethnophaulisms can influence people to devalue the targets of these antilocutions (Greenberg & Pyszczynski, 1985; Simon & Greenberg, 1996). This pernicious influence of overheard hate speech on bystanders led Greenberg and Pyszczynski (1985, p. 70) to conclude that ethnophaulisms “are not merely symptoms of prejudice but carriers of the disease as well.” — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1285

Categorization

• SHARE: Good germ for a legal/policy discussion about hate speech harms to third-party listeners, for someone into free-speech law.