Dehumanization is the psychological process of demonizing the
enemy, making them seem less than human and hence not worthy of
humane treatment. This can lead to increased violence, human rights
violations, war crimes, and genocide.
Dehumanization is a psychological process whereby opponents
view each other as less than human and thus not deserving of moral
consideration. Jews in the eyes of Nazis and Tutsis in the eyes of
Hutus (in the Rwandan genocide) are but two examples. Protracted
conflict strains relationships and makes it difficult for parties
to recognize that they are part of a shared human community.
Such conditions often lead to feelings of intense hatred and
alienation among conflicting parties. The more severe the conflict,
the more the psychological distance between groups will widen.
Eventually, this can result in moral exclusion. Those excluded are
typically viewed as inferior, evil, or criminal.
Once certain groups are stigmatized as evil, morally inferior,
and not fully human, the persecution of those groups becomes more
psychologically acceptable. Restraints against aggression and
violence begin to disappear. Not surprisingly, dehumanization
increases the likelihood of violence and may cause a conflict to
escalate out of control.
It is thought that the psychological process of dehumanization
might be mitigated or reversed through humanization efforts, the
development of empathy, the establishment of personal relationships
between conflicting parties, and the pursuit of common goals.
Historically, dehumanization has accompanied some of the
darkest chapters in human history. During colonization, slavery,
genocide, and war, depictions of the other side as uncivilized
brutes or animals has been commonplace. We see this type of
dehumanizing rhetoric from terror groups today—not only are we, the
‘infidels,’ referred to as ‘pigs’ or ‘dogs,’ but we are viewed as
undifferentiated and therefore collectively responsible.
The rhetoric in western democracies about disliked Muslim
groups and terrorists is nearly identical: Iranians, Hamas and ISIS
have been depicted in the mainstream media as rats, beasts, snakes
or vermin in need of extermination.
Dehumanisation is a by-product of terrorism. The dehumanisation
of the terrorists has facilitated the execution of broad
counterterrorism measures in multiple contexts. However the victims
of terrorism acts are also dehumanised. Their deaths are
transformed into a symbolic licence crucial to inspiring and
justifying these policies.
The dehumanisation of victims differs from the dehumanisation
of perpetrators of terrorism. While terrorists are dehumanised
through a portrayal that strips them of what refers to as ‘uniquely
human’ traits, the victims of terrorism receive the opposite
treatment. They are often hailed as martyrs. This dehumanisation
manifests itself in the form of symbolism and memories that attempt
to preserve the characteristics of life.