Humanness and Dehumanization

Why do we regard some people as less than fully human, and why can we sometimes do the same to ourselves? Psychologists have only recently started to study these questions in depth. This edited collection brings together current work from leading researchers in social psychology and neighboring fields. The chapters trace the history of dehumanization, distinguish its various forms, and put forward new theories about when and why it happens. Although beliefs about what makes a person human, and who qualifies, have long been seen as central to ethnic conflict, the contributors show that they also matter in medicine, policing, gender relations, and how people relate to the natural world. The volume also compares how different cultures think about humanness, and considers ways to reduce dehumanization. It discusses emerging ideas, current disputes and possible ways of resolving them, and new areas where the research can be applied.