Perceiving Bad Wolves: Emotional and Moral Mechanisms in Migration Violence

This study will investigate how societal and psychological mechanisms contribute to the normalization of exclusion and violence against migrants, drawing on insights from Julia Shaw's Making Evil and Philip Zimbardo's Lucifer Effect. Employing Johan Galtung's typology of violence, the research will explore how direct, structural, and cultural violence interacts with emotional dynamics and group-based moral justifications to shape public attitudes and behaviors toward migration. Data will be collected from a cross-cultural survey in 11 countries, focusing on perceptions of migration policies, institutional trust, and emotional responses. Emotional reactions, measured using the Geneva Wheel of Emotions (GWE), will provide insights into how emotions such as fear, resentment, and hope mediate perceptions of violence. The survey will also analyse experiences of discrimination, attitudes toward cultural integration, and the intensity of public debates, offering a comprehensive understanding of how narratives and group dynamics perpetuate exclusion. The analysis will examine how dehumanization and moral rationalizations, as outlined by Shaw, contribute to cultural violence by framing migrants as threats to societal identity or stability. These processes are anticipated to normalize exclusionary attitudes and practices, even among individuals who may not consciously endorse harmful behaviors. By integrating Shaw's perspective on moral justifications with the Lucifer Effect and Galtung's framework, this study aims to uncover the psychological and societal mechanisms that legitimize violence within institutions and narratives. Findings will provide actionable recommendations for policymakers and communicators, emphasizing strategies to counteract dehumanization and foster inclusive, empathetic narratives. This research will advance the understanding of the emotional and cognitive underpinnings of migration attitudes, offering tools to address polarization and systemic inequalities.