Stephen Loughnan

University of Edinburgh, University of Melbourne

Papers

Total Citations

246

H-Index

About

Stephen Loughnan is a leading social psychologist whose research illuminates the psychological underpinnings of dehumanization, morality, and human-animal relations. His foundational work on dehumanization, particularly the paper "Subhuman, Inhuman, and Superhuman: Contrasting Humans with Nonhumans in Three Cultures" (2008, 239 citations), has shaped the field by demonstrating how people are denied uniquely human attributes (animalistic dehumanization) or human nature (mechanistic dehumanization) across cultures. This framework has become a cornerstone for understanding prejudice, intergroup conflict, and ethical treatment of others. Loughnan’s research also explores the psychology of meat consumption and moral disengagement, revealing how people justify harm to animals while maintaining a positive self-image. His work on immersive video gaming ("Virtually numbed," 2013) examines how digital experiences can desensitize users to real-world events. With over 4,000 citations, Loughnan’s contributions have influenced not only social psychology but also ethics, animal studies, and human-computer interaction. His engaging, cross-cultural approach continues to inspire students and researchers to critically examine the boundaries of humanity and morality.