Experiencing Dehumanization: Cognitive and Emotional Effects of Everyday Dehumanization

Abstract

Research into dehumanization has focused on its perpetrators and neglected the experience of its targets. Across two studies we present evidence that people experience interactions as dehumanizing when other people's behavior undermines basic elements of personhood, such as identity and status. These experiences have cognitive and emotional consequences. Two forms of experienced dehumanization were apparent. In one, a failure to recognize the target's equal status is associated with aversive self-awareness and feelings of shame and guilt. In the other, a failure to recognize the target's basic existence as a person is associated with cognitive deconstructive states and feelings of sadness and anger.

Notes

¹To link our dehumanization dimensions to theoretically interesting maltreatment characteristics, such as whether the behavior was perceived to affect status or dignity, we also asked participants to rate each maltreatment on two theoretically important dimensions relating to the extent to which they felt they were not treated with dignity, respect, and as equal in status (eight items; e.g., “The other person sees me as inferior,” “I would feel I was not treated with respect,” “I had lost my dignity”; Cronbach's α = .95), and the extent to which they felt others had distanced themselves or failed to value their identity or existence (adapted from Zadro, Williams, & Richardson, 2004; nine items; e.g., “I would feel disconnected,” “I would feel like my existence didn't really matter,” “I would feel like the other person ignores my interests”; α = .93). When we regressed each characteristic of the maltreatment onto the two dehumanization dimensions, this revealed a significant model for denial of identity, F(2, 49) = 64.50, p < .001, with both Human Uniqueness and Human Nature significant predictors, but Human Nature substantially stronger. The model for denial of status was also significant, F(2, 49) = 61.88, p < .001, and both Human Uniqueness and Human Nature were significantly and equally associated.

**p < .01. ***p < .001.

†p < .10. *p < .05. **p < .01.