| Sumario: | Derogatory communication about discriminated groups is commonly attributed to hate, but the emotional mechanism of such language remains under-explored. Three studies (S1, N = 682; S2, N = 43, & S3, N = 150) examined how exposure to hate speech affects emotional responses toward target groups, which can then translate to further use of derogatory language. In Study 1, contempt, but also anger, acted as mediators between the exposure to and the use of hate speech. In Study 2, among participants exposed to high levels of hate speech, further exposure to derogatory language led to increased facial expression of contempt and joy, but to inhibited expression of sadness. In Study 3, participants exposed to hate speech expressed a higher level of contempt (but also anger and disgust) directed at victims of hate speech. Overall, we propose that contempt constitutes an affective mechanism responsible for the spread of harmful forms of intergroup communication.
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