Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHistorical ContextPsychological Mechanisms Involved in DehumanizationCauses and Consequences of DehumanizationPrevention and Reduction StrategiesEthical Considerations

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Historical Context

Psychological Mechanisms Involved in Dehumanization

Causes and Consequences of Dehumanization

Prevention and Reduction Strategies

Ethical Considerations

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Racism, sexism, homophobia, torture, even genocide. These are some of the horrible things that can happen when a group of people is dehumanized, or thought of as less than human. To disregard another’s humanity is toview them as “other”and often as “less than.”Dehumanization frequently takes place in intergroup contexts but can also happen in the realm of interpersonal relationships. It is possible anywhere where one person seeks to deny another’s humanity.

Below, we’ll look at the historical context of dehumanization, explore the psychological mechanisms behind it, and seek to understand the causes and consequences of dehumanization.

Bardin adds that “the repetition of negative stereotypes, slurs, and disdain for the victims of dehumanization allows the ‘in-group’ to feel justified in carrying out abuse, oppression, and other mistreatment. Dehumanization is vicious and can lead totrauma seen for many generations, whether in societies and cultures or individuals.”

There are many instances of dehumanization throughout history. Patty Johnson, PsyD atNia Integrative Health, gives some examples:

Moral Disengagement

One psychological mechanism for dehumanization is moral disengagement. While most people have standards for moral conduct that prevent them from doing morally dubious things, these standards are not unwavering.

Cognitive Processes

Cognitiveprocesses, such as categorization, imagery, and metaphor, are another psychological mechanism involved in dehumanization. “Dehumanization starts with categorizing a group as different, not part of the human species,” explains Bardin.

“Imagery and metaphors are used to reinforce the dehumanized group,” she says. “For example, saying immigrants are insects infesting our country is not literal, but metaphorically evokes strong emotion and fear.”

If these things are repeated enough, an in-group may start seeing an out-group as less than human, and “negative emotions [will] replace our compassion and respect [for the out-group].

Role of Language and Labels

Threats of violence, separation, deportation, and death further dehumanize them. Once this language becomes acceptable…, charismatic leaders can influence or instruct followers to take action against the out-group without regret or shame, instead feeling pride for their atrocities.—BROOKE BARDIN, LCSW

Threats of violence, separation, deportation, and death further dehumanize them. Once this language becomes acceptable…, charismatic leaders can influence or instruct followers to take action against the out-group without regret or shame, instead feeling pride for their atrocities.

—BROOKE BARDIN, LCSW

This is one way that language can be used to stigmatize and make one group seem like they are “less than” another group.

When people dehumanize others, according toRaquel Martin, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Professor at Tennessee State University, the consequences for the dehumanizer can be the justification of violence against the people they’re dehumanizing and disregard for whole groups, ultimately leading to cruelty, systemic inequality, and oppression.

The key to preventing or reducing dehumanization is reducing our tendency to see others as less than human. “It is vital to reconcile the dissonance between logically knowing a person is a living being and the cognitive process of reducing someone to less than human,” say Johnson. “This becomes possible when experiences challenge the ability to compartmentalize facts from self-justification.”

Bardin concurs, “We need to build connections between groups, developempathyfor one another, and  listen—really listen—to each other to gain an understanding of our differences.”

Martin offers strategies for reducingstereotypes, which she calls the “fuel for dehumanization.”  She explains, “One [strategy] is stereotype replacement which means that you must learn to recognize when you’re responding based on stereotypes and then actively generating non-stereotypical alternatives.

For this to work, you have to educate yourself on stereotypes that are present, because you can’t recognize what you don’t know and they’re so ingrained in society that they may be overlooked.

“You can also work on counter-stereotypic imaging which involves focusing on individuals from a particular culture that do not fit the stereotype,” she says. “This helps break down mental associations that fuel dehumanization. This can involve actively recalling people you know or public figures who challenge those stereotypes.

“But the main thing that drives the deterioration of stereotypic thinking, and as a result dehumanization, is purposefully seeking opportunities to engage with people… from different cultures and building meaningful, human connections. This direct contact can challenge harmful narratives andreduce prejudicethrough personal experience.”

Dehumanization is fundamentallyunethical. As a result, doing everything in our power to come out against dehumanization, and trying to stop our own urges to dehumanize others, is vital.

“Dehumanization is the antithesis of any and every ethical principle because it disregards equality, dignity, and respect for human life,” says Martin. “The result of dehumanization is the fostering of cruelty and justification for the violation of… the moral and fair treatment of entire groups of people. Ethics and dehumanization cannot coexist.”

Wrapping Up

Many people can fall prey to dehumanization without even realizing it. In order to understand what they’re doing and begin to stop the cycle, we must include information on dehumanization in schools and other institutions. We should also encourage people to think about times they’ve “othered” other individuals and how they can correct that behavior. Together, we can create a world that accepts every person as fully human.

2 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kteily NS, Landry AP.Dehumanization: Trends, insights, and challenges.Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 2022;26(3):222-240. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2021.12.003Bandura A.Moral disengagement. In: Christie DJ, ed.The Encyclopedia of Peace Psychology. 1st ed. Wiley; 2011. doi:10.1002/9780470672532.wbepp165

2 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kteily NS, Landry AP.Dehumanization: Trends, insights, and challenges.Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 2022;26(3):222-240. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2021.12.003Bandura A.Moral disengagement. In: Christie DJ, ed.The Encyclopedia of Peace Psychology. 1st ed. Wiley; 2011. doi:10.1002/9780470672532.wbepp165

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Kteily NS, Landry AP.Dehumanization: Trends, insights, and challenges.Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 2022;26(3):222-240. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2021.12.003Bandura A.Moral disengagement. In: Christie DJ, ed.The Encyclopedia of Peace Psychology. 1st ed. Wiley; 2011. doi:10.1002/9780470672532.wbepp165

Kteily NS, Landry AP.Dehumanization: Trends, insights, and challenges.Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 2022;26(3):222-240. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2021.12.003

Bandura A.Moral disengagement. In: Christie DJ, ed.The Encyclopedia of Peace Psychology. 1st ed. Wiley; 2011. doi:10.1002/9780470672532.wbepp165

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