What is dehumanization, and how is it accomplished?

Question

If a person was constantly being physically, sexually, emotionally, and psychologically abused, would they at some point lose their humanity?

In your opinion who needs help more, the abuser or the 1 being abused? What good can either person be to society?

Answer 1

I guess I lost some part of myself or my humanity from being abused so much emotionally, etc. The abuser is typically an a*****e whose *** is kissed constantly and the abused is forgotten and not given a c**p about. Well the abuser is a ************* a*****e and thats what good he or she does to society. The abused (me) is a great candidate for the circus once dehumanization takes a total hold.

I should've just told people I was canadian so that I wouldn't be considered a "freak".

Answer 2

What is Dehumanization.  First we must look to the denotation of the word itself as opposed to relying on the connation.  The connation evokes a deep emotional feeling for me.

de·hu·man·ize

tr.v. de·hu·man·ized, de·hu·man·iz·ing, de·hu·man·iz·es

1. To deprive of human qualities such as individuality, compassion, or civility: slaves who had been dehumanized by their abysmal condition.

2. To render mechanical and routine.

Noun 1. dehumanization - the act of degrading people with respect to their best qualities; "science has been blamed for the dehumanization of modern life"

The following below is from the link: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-dehumani...

During times of conflict or war, conventional moral and ethical codes concerning the treatment of others are often challenged. Political leaders often seek out methods to override their citizens' objections in order to gain support for their cause. One such method of public manipulation is called dehumanization. Dehumanization is the deliberate removal of sympathetic human traits when referring to members of an opposing ideology, race, political party or other source of conflict. Adolf Hitler's references to Jews as 'vermin' or 'rats' is one example of dehumanization in action.

Dehumanization often begins with the removal of personal identification. A convicted criminal is issued a prison identification number, for example. This form of dehumanization allows the guards and other authorities to maintain an impersonal relationship with inmates. This practice of dehumanization is also used by military prisons to maintain a feeling of superiority over captured enemy combatants. Viewing the enemy as a human being may compromise a soldier's ability to interrogate him or her later.

Dehumanization methods can also be seen in other controversial areas. Those who support the rights of women to seek abortions, for example, rarely use the words baby or child in their literature. Using more clinical terms, such as fetus, could be seen as an effort to dehumanize an important element of the issue. Conversely, pro-life supporters may use dehumanization methods to reduce the staff members of a health clinic to uncaring baby killers. Dehumanization as a propaganda tool can work both ways.

Another example of dehumanization in action occurs during media coverage of wars or conflicts. The enemy forces are often described as extremists, rebels or terrorists, while friendly forces are described as troops or freedom fighters. Dehumanization allows the public to override their natural aversions to conflict by perceiving their enemies as inhuman. Dehumanization tactics also tap into a person's innate prejudices, such as by creating the character of the "Muslim extremist" or the "Jewish threat". It is far easier to justify the annihilation of a caricature than an actual race or religion.

Resuming back to the question regarding abuse.  Would a person lsoe their humanity if they were constantly being constantly being physically, sexually, emotionally, and psychologically abused?  The chances are always possible if during those acts of abuse they were treated like any inanimate object versus and identity of being a unique individual person.  An abused person can still retain their humane ways as long as the abuser continues to identify them in human connective ways such as, her, he, them, or personal name.

If the abuser only identified them as a filthy, flea bitten dog, a receptacle, etc. of any description not related to being human, then the chances become greater of losing sight of the ego and one's purpose..

Who needs help more?  The abused because an abused person with enough assurance of personal kindness and love from society can help them recover.  An abuser many times can be biologically hardwired with such predisposition no matter what kind of mental health therapy provided.  Do I think we should not provide any help to an abuser?  Of course as a civil society we should help both, but we must pay heed more to the abused is all I am saying.

The good an abused person can do is when they find the ability to recover from such scenarios, they can in turn help others into the future in similar scenarios by showing them they can survive, recover, and become better for personal selves if they are willing to do the hard work and make the tough choices required to get there even when they periodically back slide into less than stellar choices in their life, as there is always the ability to try and start again.  That really is what matters is that it is the effort to keep trying to move forward vs. constantly sliding backwards or remaining in one place without effort to move forward.

An active abuser with no effort to imporve self has very little contribution to society of none.

Forgive my length.  This was not a casual question for a casual quick answer.  This is a subject matter I currently help people in person move on to better, healthier relationships

Answer 3

Dehumanisation isn't about losing humanity (eg altruism, compassion).  

Someone can go through the worst trauma and abuse and yet be compassionate towards others.  Take the likes of Nelson Mandela.

Yet the abuser with their power and what goes with that has lost compassion and altruistic reasoning.

Dehumanisation is about removing people's dignity and degrading them.

Both need help.

Answer 4

Being dehumanized is usually called being a RECRUIT in the Military who is still in basic training.

Answer 5

That's a very interesting question... I do think it's possible for a person to be so abused that they lose their sense of humanitiy.. the essence of what it is to be human. As for your second question.. that's a tough one. who would need more help? the abused or the abuser? I honestly don't have a good answer to that. I would think it depends on the kind and duration of abuse ... I do believe that some people are beyond our help however and need to be put behind bars. It's sad .. but the truth is most abusers have been abused themselves at some point in their life.. MOST but not all. still it doesn't condone their act ...