The Association Between Existential Isolation and Dehumanizing Self-Perceptions
Abstract/Description/Artist Statement
Existential isolation is the belief that nobody can understand your worldview or experiences, and has been found to be related to poorer psychological well-being (e.g., increased anxiety and depression). While much research has focused on how feeling existentially isolated threatens social well-being, little has examined the self-image concerns that might underlie these difficulties. Specifically, existing research shows that viewing oneself as “sub-human” or lacking essential human traits and characteristics, which can be referred to as self-dehumanization, is threatening and can stem from a perceived lack of belonging. Therefore, this research aimed to examine whether individuals who feel more existentially isolated are also more likely to view themselves as sub-human. Additionally, this research also examined whether self-perceptions of “sub-humanness” would be related to highly existentially isolated individuals’ beliefs about others’ perceptions of them. To test these questions, undergraduate students completed an online survey and responded to measures assessing their chronic feelings of existential isolation, self-dehumanization, and their beliefs about others’ views of them. Correlational results show that people who feel more existentially isolated are also more likely to view themselves as sub-human, and to believe that other people also view them as sub-human. These associations also held when accounting for other factors known to be associated with dehumanizing perceptions (i.e., interpersonal isolation, need to belong, and perceived moral goodness). This suggests that existential isolation presents a unique risk to people’s self-image, as well as a potential barrier to their ability to form meaningful connections with others.
Keywords: existential isolation, dehumanization, meta-dehumanization, sense of belonging.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Matthew Espinosa
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Email
maespino@odu.edu
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Psychology
College/School Affiliation
College of Sciences
Student Level Group
Undergraduate
Presentation Type
Poster
The Association Between Existential Isolation and Dehumanizing Self-Perceptions
Existential isolation is the belief that nobody can understand your worldview or experiences, and has been found to be related to poorer psychological well-being (e.g., increased anxiety and depression). While much research has focused on how feeling existentially isolated threatens social well-being, little has examined the self-image concerns that might underlie these difficulties. Specifically, existing research shows that viewing oneself as “sub-human” or lacking essential human traits and characteristics, which can be referred to as self-dehumanization, is threatening and can stem from a perceived lack of belonging. Therefore, this research aimed to examine whether individuals who feel more existentially isolated are also more likely to view themselves as sub-human. Additionally, this research also examined whether self-perceptions of “sub-humanness” would be related to highly existentially isolated individuals’ beliefs about others’ perceptions of them. To test these questions, undergraduate students completed an online survey and responded to measures assessing their chronic feelings of existential isolation, self-dehumanization, and their beliefs about others’ views of them. Correlational results show that people who feel more existentially isolated are also more likely to view themselves as sub-human, and to believe that other people also view them as sub-human. These associations also held when accounting for other factors known to be associated with dehumanizing perceptions (i.e., interpersonal isolation, need to belong, and perceived moral goodness). This suggests that existential isolation presents a unique risk to people’s self-image, as well as a potential barrier to their ability to form meaningful connections with others.
Keywords: existential isolation, dehumanization, meta-dehumanization, sense of belonging.