Self-dehumanization

Abstract

Dehumanization has been a topic of great interest within social psychology over the past decade. Much of this research has examined how and when dehumanization may become evident in how we view others. Our perceptions of others, however, are not the sole province of dehumanization. In this paper we review a series of studies showing that dehumanization can also be found in our perceptions of self. This may be the result of harmful treatment by others, or it may be triggered by our own harmful behavior. Self-dehumanization also has consequences for feelings and behavior. Experiencing self-dehumanization is associated with aversive self-awareness, cognitive deconstructive states and feelings o..