Approaching dehumanizing interactions: Joint consideration of other-, meta-, and self-dehumanization

Abstract

Although research on dehumanization in behavioral sciences has exponentially increased in the last two decades, most of the investigation's efforts have focused either on perpetrators or victims of dehumanization independently of one another. Paralleling trends in the psychology of discrimination, we argue that a full comprehension of dehumanization needs to take into consideration the dynamics of dehumanizing interactions. In particular, we distinguish other-, meta-, and self-dehumanization and propose three ways by which these phenomena could interrelate: reciprocal dehumanization, displaced dehumanization, and compensatory dehumanization. We also review the literature that supports these interrelations.