Dehumanization

Dehumanized people
Sub-human stereotyping

Nature

Object-directed dehumanization is the tendency to view other individuals or groups as though they do not quite belong to the human race. Such a tendency can be socially dangerous. It leads to the 'rational' conclusion that it is not necessary to treat 'them' as if they were like 'us' or to be concerned with what they might be suffering if they were truly human beings.

Self-directed dehumanization includes diminution of the sense of personal responsibility for one's own actions, as well as feelings of powerlessness and of inability to question or to affect the course of events.

Incidence

The Nazis' efficient technological and corporate structure was an effective mechanism both for removing individual responsibility and in dehumanizing its victims. Jews in transport trains to the death camps were called "pieces". Train officials processed 15,000 pieces from Hungary, 10,000 pieces from Greece, a million pieces from Poland, etc.

Claim

There is an increasing tendency towards dehumanization as a response to many facets of modern life. Certain features of the preparations for nuclear war are particularly conducive to this reaction. In turn, dehumanization may increase the risk of nuclear warfare by inhibiting some of the psychological deterrents to it. Even under conditions of present conventional warfare, only a fraction of military personnel comes into face-to-face contact with the enemy. With increasing automation of weapon systems, there will be even less room for sympathy or empathy that might attenuate the suffering inflicted on others.

The horror of the century past has been that in many situations have too easily been brought to see their neighbours not just as enemies but as nonhuman objects to be liquidated without a second thought as an affirmation of national, racial or ethnic pride.