"You Cannot Get into My Taxi!" Perceptions of a COVID-19-based Rejection Episode Reported in the Newspapers. (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vacchini, Sabrina; Fasoli, Fabio; Volpato, Chiara
• Other Names: Jucks Regina guest-editor.; Hendriks Friederike guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of language and social psychology. Volume 40:Number 5/6(2021)
• Page Start: 677
• Page End: 689
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- xenophobia -- social exclusion -- social pain -- help; Sociolinguistics -- Periodicals; Psycholinguistics -- Periodicals; 401.905
• DOI: 10.1177/0261927X211043096
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-927X

Abstract

COVID-19-related incidents of xenophobia have hit the headlines. We asked participants to read about a rejection episode targeting a foreigner and we manipulated whether the rejection was motivated by COVID-19 fears or by no specific reasons. In the COVID-19 condition, the perpetrator was perceived as moral but as experiencing shame and guilt, while the target was seen as experiencing social pain. Helping intentions were predicted by either the perceived victim's social pain or morality and blame associated with the perpetrator.