Dehumanization: meaning, definitions and examples

This word is used when describing the process of stripping away human qualities, dignity, or individuality from a person or group of people. It often involves treating people as if they are less than human.

• 'The dehumanization of prisoners made it easier for guards to treat them cruelly
• '; 'Propaganda often plays a key role in the dehumanization of the enemy during wartime
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Degradation refers to the act of reducing someone's dignity or worth, often in a way that feels humiliating or dishonoring. It can be used in a wide variety of contexts, from environmental to personal or social.

• 'The pollution led to the degradation of the river ecosystem
• '; 'The public shaming led to his social degradation
• '

Depersonalization is a psychological term used to describe a state where a person feels disconnected from their own identity or body, often feeling like an observer of their own actions. It is less about the actions of others and more about an internal experience.

• 'During periods of extreme stress, he experienced depersonalization and felt as if he were watching himself from outside his body
• '; 'Depression and anxiety can sometimes lead to feelings of depersonalization
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Dehumanizing is the adjective form and is used to describe actions or environments that cause dehumanization. These actions make people feel less human and can be deeply harmful.

• 'The dehumanizing conditions in the factory made it unbearable to work there
• '; 'His comments were dehumanizing and deeply offensive
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This term refers to treating someone as less than human, stripping away individual identity and dignity. It is often used in discussions about violence, discrimination, and oppressive systems.

• The dehumanization of prisoners in the concentration camps was horrifying.
• Racist propaganda can lead to the dehumanization of entire groups of people.

This word is used to describe a decline or deterioration in quality, condition, or status. It can refer to both physical and social contexts, such as environmental degradation or moral degradation.

• The pollution caused the degradation of the river ecosystem.
• Witnessing the degradation of urban neighborhoods over time can be heartbreaking.

This term is used in psychology to describe a state where an individual feels detached from their own personal identity or body, often as a response to trauma or stress. It can also refer to practices that strip away personal identity in social or institutional contexts.

• The patient reported feelings of depersonalization, as if they were watching themselves from outside their body.
• In large bureaucracies, the depersonalization of interactions can make people feel undervalued.

Dehumanizing acts or behaviors are those that treat people as if they are less than human. This can include both actions and language that diminish the humanity of individuals or groups. The term carries a strong negative connotation.

• Calling people derogatory names is a dehumanizing practice.
• The harsh conditions in the factory were dehumanizing for the workers.