Exploring alienation, self-dehumanization, and aggression in adolescents: institutionalized vs noninstitutionalized

Abstract

Background: Self-dehumanization is a scarcely studied process linked to stigma in minority groups that is promoted by the dissatisfaction of various psychosocial needs and is associated with antisocial or immoral behaviors. On the other hand, alienation is a subjective state of deprivation or “estrangement” from one’s own nature, involving deficiencies in psychosocial needs, and predicting various types of deviant behaviors in adolescents. Objective: The aim of the following research is to verify if alienation is a predictor of self-dehumanization; and, secondly, if the experience of alienation and self-dehumanization promotes self-reported aggression in institutionalized and non-institutionalized adolescents. Methods: Sixty six (67) adolescents (27 of them institutionalized, 35 non-institutionalized) filled out self-report measures of alienation, dehumanization and aggression. Results: Through mean differences tests and various regression, mediation, and moderation analyses, it is found that the experience of alienation is a significant predictor of self-dehumanization and that both self-dehumanization and alienation (partially mediated by self-dehumanization) predict self-reported aggression. However, moderation analyses show that this is not the case for non-institutionalized minors. Conclusion: Both sets of findings allow for the consideration of interventions specifically aimed at mitigating alienating elements and problematic types of self-dehumanization.