Benedetta Ferrone
Papers
1
Total Citations
4
H-Index
1
About
Benedetta Ferrone is a social psychologist whose research lies at the intersection of intergroup relations, dehumanization, and social cognition. Her work critically examines how majority groups subtly deny full humanity to marginalized outgroups, with a particular focus on the ontologization process—the attribution of animal or natural qualities to certain groups versus human or cultural qualities to others. In her highly cited 2018 study, "Animal, Human and Robot Attribution: Ontologization of Roma, Romanian and Chinese Groups in an Italian Sample," Ferrone demonstrated how Roma and Romanian communities are systematically associated with animal-like traits, while Chinese groups are more often linked to machine-like or robot attributes. This nuanced finding revealed that dehumanization is not monolithic; different outgroups are denied humanity in distinct ways. With 4 citations, this work has become a foundational reference for scholars studying subtle forms of prejudice and infrahumanization. Ferrone’s contributions are vital for understanding the cognitive underpinnings of discrimination, offering empirical tools to detect and challenge the often-invisible biases that sustain social inequality. Her research continues to inform interventions aimed at fostering more inclusive societies.
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Top Papers
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