The research program of our lab is mainly concerned with social cognition, stereotyping, and inter-group relations. Specifically, our research is focused on how individuals organize their knowledge about social environments. Moreover, we look at how social, cognitive and biological factors affect individuals’ attitudes and behaviors towards in-group and out-group members, and how these factors can result in inter-group conflict and discrimination. Our lab considers applying research to societal problems to be highly important and necessary. One applied focus is the evaluation and implementation of bullying, homophobic bullying, cyberbullying prevention programs. Another focus is the analysis of the social and cognitive determinants of prejudice and discrimination against immigrants.

Language and inter-group relations

This line of research analyzes whether linguistic cues might affect the way individuals perceive and judge other individuals. Firstly, our lab investigates the inductive potential of different grammar forms in person perception. Specifically, our lab has collaborated with Anne Maass (University of Padova) to analyze whether the use of nouns (e.g. Jews) enhances stereotypical inferences, inhibits alternative categorization and leads to the perception of membership being more genetically based, relative to the use of adjectives (e.g., Jewish; see Carnaghi et al. JPSP 2008; Maass, Carnaghi & Rakić, 2016).

In a related line of work, our lab is collaborating with Anne Maass (University of Padova), Fabio Fasoli, Patrice Rusconi (University of Surrey) and Mauro Bianchi (Lusofona University) to analyze whether and how politically incorrect language affects individuals’ attitudes and behaviors towards the group that is victim of such language. Specifically, we address whether homophobic epithets, such as ‘fag’, compared to the category term ‘gay’, increase the automatic prejudice and dehumanization towards homosexuals (Carnaghi et al., JLSP 2008; Fasoli, Paladino, Carnaghi et al. 2016) and affect behaviors towards homosexuals (Fasoli, Maass, Carnaghi, BJSP 2015). Furthermore, we study whether the overhearing of such epithets might alter male heterosexuals’ self-perception by increasing their endorsement of masculinity norms (Carnaghi et al., PSPB 2011, Bianchi, Piccoli, Zotti, Fasoli Carnaghi, 2017, JLSP).

Bullying, Cyberbullying, discrimination and social exclusion

Our lab, in collaboration with the Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Ufficio Scolastico Regionale, and the Arcigay association, has analyzed the use of anti-homosexual language in schools and has set up interventions aimed at reducing anti-gay bullying among adolescents (Hunt, Piccoli, Carnaghi et al., Journal of Homosexuality, 2016; Zotti,Piccoli, Pelamatti, Carnaghi, 2017). Moreover, our lab addresses the social, emotional and cognitive factors that promote or inhibit bystanders’ interventions when facing bullying behaviors. The analyses of bullying is not limited to school contexts but it also involves cyber-contexts. The analyses of the determinants of cyber-bullying has recently been funded by Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia (2016-2021; CyBUS fund). Our lab also investigates the inter-group related factors that back the exclusion of immigrants and interfere with the process of acculturation (this research has been funded by Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia, 2015; ‘Giovani e Opinioni Sociali’).

Stereotype and Stereotyping

Stereotypes are beliefs about social groups that influence what information is sought out, attended to and remembered about group members. Stereotypes also influence social behaviors and justify inter-group conflict and discrimination. Our lab is interested in studying the ways in which stereotypes can be revised and changed (Carnaghi et al. 2006; 2007 EJSP). Our lab, in collaboration with Mara Cadinu (University of Padova) further analyzes how stereotypes influence the representation of the self (self-stereotyping) in majority and minority group members (Latrofa, Vaes, Cadinu, Carnaghi, PSPB 2010; Hunt, Fasoli, Carnaghi & Cadinu, 2016; Psych. of Men & Masculinity, 2016). Furthermore, again in collaboration with Prof. Cadinu (University of Padova), Fabio Fasoli (University fo Surrey), Joel Anderson (Austalian Catholic University), Mauro Bianchi (Lusofona University) our lab investigates the distinct cognitive processes that entail ingroup and outgroup stereotyping of minority and majority groups (Cadinu, Latrofa, Carnaghi, Self & Identity, 2013; Carnaghi et al. 2018, Men and Masculinity; Bianchi, Carnaghi, Shamloo, 2018 Ps. Soc.). Cross-cultural differences in terms of gender stereotypes are also addressed by our lab (Hunt, Piccoli, Gonsalkorale, Carnaghi, 2015; Sex Roles). As our lab considers applying research to societal problems to be highly important, we also address how stereotypes can affect risk behaviors, especially in the case of the perceived risk associated with sexually transmitted diseases (Carnaghi et al., IRSP 2011, Carnaghi et al. AIDS-care 2007).

Are social groups different from living and non-living entities?

In this line of research, we seek to understand how individuals’ appraisal of information about social groups (such as Jews, homosexuals, and women) is different from their appraisal of information concerning other living and non-living entities (such as cats, apples and bicycles). In collaboration with Raffaella Rumiati (SISSA-Trieste), we have worked with primary dementia patients and brain tumor patietns, e we have demonstrated that knowledge about social groups is independently represented to other semantic knowledge (see, Piretti, Carnaghi et al. 2015, CORTEX,  Rumiati, Carnaghi et al. Cog Neuroscience, 2014; Carnaghi, Silveri, Rumiati, 2015; J of Cog & Behav Neurology).

Despite these studies demonstrating that social information is processed differently to information related to other living and non-living entities, other evidence (such as violence against women) suggests that, at least in certain cases, human beings might be reduced to the status of objects and animals. In collaboration with Giorgia Silani (Universitat Wien) and Carlotta Cogoni (SISSA-Trieste), our lab analyzes the cognitive and emotional factors that promote the objectification of women and justify sexual harassment (supported by PRIN 2013 funds; Cogoni Carnaghi Silani, 2018, CORTEX; Piccoli, Foroni, Carnaghi, 2013 PSPB; Piccoli, Cobey, Carnaghi 2014, Pers. Ind. Differences; Piccoli et al. 2017, BJSP; Cogoni, Carnaghi et al., 2018, PLOSoNE; Riva, Triscoli, Lamm, Carnaghi, Silani; 2016; Front. in aging Neuroscience).Our lab, in collaboration with Carlo Fantoni (DSV, Units) analyzes the way social factors, such as information on social status and on human/non-human distinction, affect kinematics (Fantoni, Rigutti, Piccoli, Sommacal, Carnaghi, 2016 PLOSoNE; Carnaghi et al. 2014).