Hate Speech

This Element examines the forms that hate speech takes, its underlying causes and effects, and potential strategies for mitigation.

Janet B. Ruscher (Author)

9781009534673, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 January 2025

84 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 0.6 cm, 0.262 kg

Hate speech comprises any form of hateful or contemptuous expression that attacks, degrades, or vilifies people based on their social identities. This Element focuses on hate speech targeting social identities that are devalued by a society's dominant groups, and that is likely to evoke, promote, or legitimize harms such violence, discrimination, and oppression. After detailing the ways in which hate speech is expressed (e.g., through derogatory labels, metaphors, offensive imagery), the production of hate speech is explored at theindividual level (e.g., prejudiced attitudes), group level (e.g., realistic intergroup threat), and societal level (e.g., hierarchy maintenance; free speech protections). A discussion of the effects of blatant and anonymous hate speech on targets (e.g., anxiety and depression) and nontargets (e.g., stereotype activation; desensitization; fomenting violence) follows. Finally, the effectiveness of mitigation efforts isexplored, including use of computer-based technologies, speech codes, confrontation, and counterspeech.

1. Introductory ideas
2. Forms of Hate Speech
3. Factors contributing to Hate Speech
4. Consequences of Hate Speech
5. Mitigation efforts
6. Afterword: future directions
References.

Subject Areas: Social, group or collective psychology [JMH]