Not All ‘We’ Are Equal: Abstraction Levels of Superordinate Groups and Their Impact on Respect, Tolerance, and Emotions

The disapproval–respect model of tolerance conceptualizes tolerance as the result of disapproval at one categorization level (“us” versus “them”) being tempered by respect at a superordinate level that includes both groups. It assumes that any superordinate category that encompasses both groups should equally promote tolerance. We test whether different levels of superordinate abstraction (e.g., “democratic citizens” vs. “humans”) differentially affect respect, tolerance, and emotional responses. Participants are N=956 adults who evaluated the far-right party AfD as a disapproved outgroup; only those expressing disapproval will be retained for the main analyses. In a between-subjects experiment, participants were randomly assigned to categorize themselves and AfD supporters under one of two superordinate groups (“democratic citizens” vs. “humans”), and then completed measures of respect, tolerance, toleration, and emotions toward AfD supporters.