Header image source: https://www.bic.org/focus-areas/human-rights

Picture source: https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/3/7/14456154/dehumanization-psychology-explained

Introduction

So what happens when people deem others as non-human and not worthy of empathy?

The results can be extremely severe and negative for the group being dehumanized. If people are deprived of their human qualities then that exposes them to intense hostility and hatred from the oppressing group. The results of dehumanization have been displayed throughout history. Some widely know examples include slavery, or the Rwandan genocide where the Hutu extremist exterminated millions of Tutsi people and the extermination of the Jews in the Holocaust [1]. All of these events are similar because prior to the atrocities that were committed, the victims were all dehumanized. This site will highlight how it is ultimately the dehumanization of others that leads people to commit crimes against humanity such as extermination, subjugation, and other harsh treatments.

Sources:

[1] Thagard, Paul. “The Psychology of Dehumanization.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 20 June 2018, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hot-thought/201806/the-psychology-dehumanization.