Prejudiced people project repressed self-criticisms onto outgroups

Evidence

A core assumption is that sometimes what one hates about other groups of people is related to the things that one hates about oneself. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2341 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Sometimes the nasty characteristics people attribute to outgroups are more revealing about the nature of the prejudiced perceivers than they are about the targets of their prejudice. As Allport (1954/1979) stated, “One may imagine qualities in a group and hate the group for them because one is in conflict over the same qualities in oneself ” (p. 200). And in the case of both anti-Semitism and anti-Black prejudice, “accusations and feelings of revulsion against both groups symbolize our dissatisfaction with the evil in our own nature” (p. 199). Allport provided some vivid illustrations of these ideas. In one, a gentile businessman uses shady tactics to force a Jewish competitor out of business, but feels justified – because after all, who is more unethical then the Jews? Another example, in the tradition of classic psychodynamic theorizing, focused on sexual motivation. A White man violates what to him is a taboo: he has had sex with a Black woman. Whatever agitation might be caused by that indiscretion, however, is overshadowed by his rage at “the lecherous Negro male” who “would deflower white womanhood” (p. 376). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2345 (#expands, via linked claim)

How on earth could one tell whether a criticism is ego-alien? By any of several signs. The prejudiced subject said: “I have let my carnal self get away from me.” The carnality is distinguishable from himself, it is not really he. Another subject said that his lack of industriousness was inherited from one side of his family. It was imposed on him, not something for which he himself could be held to account. In speaking of their parents prejudiced subjects frequently began with generalized glowing praise and then seemed to let slip some specific criticism. Such criticisms were often promptly retracted: “He forced some decisions on me”but “He allowed me to do as I pleased; arguments were about things he didn’t want me to have” but “He never denied me anything I needed.” There is an impression that the criticism pops out against the subject’s intention and is then denied or blamed on an external cause or isolated from the essential self or parent. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 543 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Positive disclaimers about outgroups function as face-keeping, not genuine praise — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1079; Self-hatred toward one’s own group is displaced self-loathing made safe; Projection lets prejudiced people condemn in outgroups the traits they secretly possess — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 2345 (+12 more)

Broader Connections

• Hate toward outgroups can reflect self-hatred projected outward. #corroborates (0.96) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2341
• Projection lets prejudiced people condemn in outgroups the traits they secretly possess #expands (0.95) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2345
• Prejudiced people disown their own negative traits and project them outward #expands (0.94) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 543
• Projection makes outgroup accusations reveal the perceiver’s own rejected traits #corroborates (0.94) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2345
• Prejudiced people’s disowned traits get relocated onto outgroups #expands (0.93) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 546
• Projected outgroup traits mirror the very weaknesses subjects deny in themselves #corroborates (0.93) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 547
• Prejudice arises from group identities rather than individual psychology #complicates (0.75) — Cristian Tileagă, The Nature of Prejudice, 142