Stereotypes, emotions, and behaviors associated with animals: A causal test of the stereotype content model and BIAS Map

Using the stereotype content model (SCM; Fiske, Cuddy, Glick, & Xu, 2002) and the behaviors from intergroup affect and stereotypes (BIAS) map (Cuddy, Fiske, & Glick, 2007), two experiments tested the effect of animal stereotypes on emotions and behavioral tendencies toward animals.
The approach aims to understand the diversity of human-animal relations according to differential perceptions of animal species in terms of stereotypes, prejudices, and behaviors. The pattern of relations between stereotypes, emotions, and behavioral intentions advanced by SCM and the adapted BIAS map for animals was experimentally tested in Study 1 by presenting a fictitious animal and systematically varying its levels of warmth and competence. Study 2 tested the different patterns of associations between the stereotypes of twenty-five animal species and realistic contexts triggering facilitation-harm and passive-active behavioral dimensions. A questionnarie was carried out asking participants (159) to rate each scenario on the intentionality/unintentionality of the action described (perceived intent) and on the benefit-harm of the action (perceived benefit).