\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Brennan gives categories of dehumanizing language common across all the different types of victims, and gives quotes throughout history to illustrate. Here are his categories:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here are some examples he gave, and I added a line for Muslims since more recent quotes about them add to the point:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The victim being attacked may also be seen as an enemy, especially in war and other power struggles. Dehumanizing can then be demonizing<\/em> the opposition. They\u2019re seen as worthy of attack, monsters, demons, simply evil. Evidence that they\u2019re real human beings interferes with this understanding. Therefore, the evidence is either ignored entirely or dismissed with scoffing.<\/p>\n Of course, those able to understand the insults can be badly hurt psychologically by the language alone.<\/p>\n But these aren\u2019t mere insults. In linguistic warfare, the viciousness of the words serves as support for acts of violence against targeted groups.<\/p>\n So dehumanization allows violence that would otherwise be inhibited. For example, slaveholders such as early Americans can assert the equality of all and then deny the equality of all at the same time. People can engage in lucrative businesses that cause wars or otherwise hurt people by deciding that the people being hurt are not really people. Why do this, rather than doing without slaves and being honest in business?<\/p>\n Why do people dehumanize others? There\u2019s actually a positive side to this: it shows we have problems with harming other human beings. Otherwise, why bother dehumanizing to be able to do harm? There are inhibitions against hurting others that have to be overcome.<\/p>\n The flip side of this coin is that rehumanizing language can be just as powerful. Language challenging these attitudes also confronts the violence they facilitate.<\/p>\n ====================================<\/p>\n For more of our posts on the psychology of the consistent life ethic, see:<\/em><\/p>\n War Hysteria and Post-Dobbs Reactions<\/a><\/p>\n The Creativity of the Fore-closed Option<\/a><\/p>\n Where Violence Begins<\/a><\/p>\n Almost No One? How Survey Polls Work<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/consistent-life.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1-blog-Brennan-Book-Take-Lives.jpg\")
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