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The Emergence of Belief Attribution and Dehumanization Are Associated

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Title: The Emergence of Belief Attribution and Dehumanization Are Associated
Language: English
Authors: Wen Zhou, Brian Hare
Source: Developmental Science. 2026 29(3).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 17
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Humanization, Theory of Mind, Young Children, Child Development, Intergroup Relations, Beliefs, Cognitive Development
DOI: 10.1111/desc.70165
ISSN: 1363-755X
1467-7687
Abstract: Dehumanization is hypothesized to involve denying others a fully human mind. We tested its proposed link with theory-of-mind development in 3- to 6-year-olds (total N = 247) using a minimal group paradigm framed as a competition. Across two experiments, only children who understood false beliefs rated the outgroup as less human than the ingroup, although they liked the outgroup less regardless of their theory-of-mind performance. As theory-of-mind development advanced, outgroup dehumanization increased, with intent to harm the outgroup only being associated with dehumanization among children who also understood second-order beliefs (n = 51). However, the strength of this relationship remains uncertain since the effect became marginally significance after controlling for intergroup liking. These results provide initial support for theory-of-mind abilities being related to the development of dehumanization. They also point to the potential for intervention during early childhood before an association between dehumanization and aggression forms.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1504497
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wen+Zhou%22">Wen Zhou</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Brian+Hare%22">Brian Hare</searchLink>
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  Data: 17
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  Data: Dehumanization is hypothesized to involve denying others a fully human mind. We tested its proposed link with theory-of-mind development in 3- to 6-year-olds (total N = 247) using a minimal group paradigm framed as a competition. Across two experiments, only children who understood false beliefs rated the outgroup as less human than the ingroup, although they liked the outgroup less regardless of their theory-of-mind performance. As theory-of-mind development advanced, outgroup dehumanization increased, with intent to harm the outgroup only being associated with dehumanization among children who also understood second-order beliefs (n = 51). However, the strength of this relationship remains uncertain since the effect became marginally significance after controlling for intergroup liking. These results provide initial support for theory-of-mind abilities being related to the development of dehumanization. They also point to the potential for intervention during early childhood before an association between dehumanization and aggression forms.
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