Mind of the Oppressors

The act of dehumanizing others is not a complex one. According to Michelle Maiese, the process of dehumanization begins once individuals associate a group of people as “the enemy.” Once this enemy image is established, the people participating in the dehumanizing begin to feel anger, distrust, and fear towards the dehumanized group. As a result, the individuals may view this “enemy” as evil or lacking of morality, and extremely dangerous. On the site Psychology Today, Thagard also adds that the use of categorization, imagery, and metaphors also play a significant role in dehumanizing others.

Repercussions

The psychological process of stripping others of their human qualities comes with many dangerous consequences. According to Maiese, once certain groups are branded as evil and non-human. people will most likely support and accept the mistreatment of these certain groups. This is significant because it opens the window for increased aggression and violence towards certain groups. Maisie, also explains that the people dehumanizing others, in some cases, may believe that the destruction of these groups is necessary. This is significant because these beliefs can influence a society’s perception of certain groups, and cause them to subjugate and even exterminate them.