Dirty jobs and dehumanization of workers. (1st February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Valtorta, Roberta Rosa; Baldissarri, Cristina; Andrighetto, Luca; Volpato, Chiara
• Is Part Of: British journal of social psychology. Volume 58:Part 4(2019)
• Page Start: 955
• Page End: 970
• Publication Date: 2019-02-01
• Subjects: cluster analysis -- dehumanization -- dirty workers -- occupational taint; Social psychology -- Periodicals; 302.05
• DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12315
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-6665

Abstract

Abstract : The present study aims at expanding research on dehumanization in the work domain by exploring laypeople's dehumanizing perceptions towards stigmatized workers. Starting from Hughes' (1951, Social psychology at the crossroads, Harper & Brothers, New York; Ashforth & Kreiner, 1999, Academy of Management Review, 24, 413) concept of 'dirty work', the present research aims to demonstrate that the different types of occupational taint elicit distinct dehumanizing images of certain occupational groups. Employing a cluster analysis, the results showed that workers in the physical taint cluster were most strongly associated with biological metaphors, workers in the social taint cluster were perceived as most similar to objects, and workers in the moral taint cluster were perceived as most similar to animals. The theoretical and practical implications are considered.