EXTENDED SUMMARY

This study focuses on the phenomenon of dehumanization, which has been linked
to wars, genocides, and other acts of cruelty such as torture, murder, rape, slavery
and human trafficking are examples of the dehumanization throughout human
history. The scarcity of studies on the concept in the Turkish scientific literature is
the basis for this study. The objective of this in-depth literature review study on
dehumanization is to raise awareness about dehumanizing actions that are
frequently encountered in daily life but that people are not very aware of. The
increasing division between ‘us’ and ‘others’ in our society leads to the observation
of dehumanizing acts among different segments of society. It is important to avoid
such acts and promote a more inclusive society. The issue at hand is not solely the
rise in dehumanizing actions, but also the manner in which these actions promote,
normalize, and validate various forms of violence.
Various definitions of dehumanization have been discussed by sociologists
and social psychologists. The concept was initially referred to as infrahumanization
by Leyens, and later categorized in Haslam’s theory.
According to the theory of infrahumanization, there is a hierarchical
relationship between individuals that is created by differences in secondary
emotions, cognition, and morality. Primary emotions, such as sadness, fear, and
happiness, are considered more basic, while secondary emotions, such as pride,
regret, and compassion, are more complex and less easily observable, as they are
linked to moral considerations. Infrahumanization is often based on secondary
emotions, which can be used as a criterion between parties.
Another theory on dehumanization is Haslam’s dual categorization which is
based on two main pillars: unique human characteristics and human nature. These
premises give rise to two types of dehumanization: animalistic dehumanization and
mechanistic dehumanization. The denial of uniquely human characteristics leads to
animalistic dehumanization, while the denial of human nature leads to mechanistic
dehumanization. While it was once believed that dehumanizing features were only
used to justify extreme acts of violence, such as war and genocide, social
psychologists now recognize that they can also be present in everyday practices.
Dehumanization leads to the deprivation of people of their humanity and is
observed at different levels, both between groups and individuals, and in
individuals’ self-perceptions. The source, target and direction of dehumanization
have given rise to different types such as other-dehumanization, metadehumanization and self-dehumanization. Other-dehumanization refers to the
perception and/or treatment of other individuals or out-groups as less human than
the individual or their own in-group. Meta-dehumanization is the belief of an
individual or a group that other individuals or groups perceive them in an inhuman
way. Self-dehumanization appears when a person or group perceives themselves or
their group as lacking basic human characteristics.
Dehumanization leads to discrimination, triggers moral exclusion, and
legitimizes and fuels violence. In practice, dehumanization can be applied
unconsciously or blatantly. Dehumanizing actions can be reductive or nonreductive or they can be classified as objective or subjective.
One of the phenomena that makes dehumanization possible is the
objectification of people. Unequal treatment of people, behaviors that make people
feel worthless and disrespectful lead to objectification. Treating the individual as an
object, excluding, exploiting or betraying the individual are among dehumanizing
daily life practices.
Fiske’s Stereotype Content Model suggests a number of findings about
which individuals and social groups are dehumanized by examining the neural
networks in humans. The two dimensions of the model, which provides a 2×2
matrix, are warmth and competence. The model addresses which social groups are
dehumanized at different dimension levels. Women can be dehumanized as a result
of sexist objectification. People with disabilities, the elderly, workers and students
who are heavily exposed to technology, athletes who are being perfected, migrants,
refugees, members of a lower social class or employees of an organization can be
victims of dehumanizing acts.
Perpetrators of dehumanization are individuals with narcissistic,
psychopathic, and socially detached personality traits who tend to experience high
levels of disgust in response to contact with strangers. Ideologically, right-wing
authoritarianism is an ideology that mediates the relationship between the
personality traits of the perpetrators and their prejudices towards the victims. In
addition, the social dominance theory, which argues that there are hierarchical
differences between human societies and that conflicts will occur between these
stratified groups, also prepares an ideological basis that facilitates dehumanization.
In terms of attitudes, it can be stated that the tendency to dehumanize increases in
individuals who have a generally hostile attitude towards attitude objects.
It is important to note that dehumanization can involve not only victims
and perpetrators, but also witnesses who may experience fear, guilt, or even
closeness to either party. Additionally, witnesses may also experience metadehumanization or self-dehumanization over time.