ScholarlyCommons

Title

Darker Demons of Our Nature: The Need to (Re)Focus Attention on Blatant Forms of Dehumanization

Author(s)

Nour Kteily
Emile Bruneau, University of PennsylvaniaFollow

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of this Version

12-2017

Publication Source

Current Directions in Psychological Science

Volume

26

Issue

6

Start Page

487

Last Page

494

DOI

10.1177/0963721417708230

Abstract

Although dehumanization research first emerged following the overt and conscious denials of humanity present during war and genocide, modern dehumanization research largely examines more subtle and implicit forms of dehumanization in more everyday settings. We argue for the need to reorient the research agenda toward understanding when and why individuals blatantly dehumanize others. We review recent research in a range of contexts suggesting that blatant dehumanization is surprisingly prevalent and potent, uniquely predicting aggressive intergroup attitudes and behavior beyond subtle forms of dehumanization and outgroup dislike, and promoting vicious cycles of conflict.

Copyright/Permission Statement

Kteily, N.S. & Bruneau, E., Darker Demons of Our Nature: The Need to (Re)Focus Attention on Blatant Forms of Dehumanization, Current Directions in Psychological Science 26, no. 6: pp. 487-494. Copyright © 2017 Association for Psychological Science. Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications.

This is a pre-publication version. The final version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0963721417708230

Keywords

intergroup relations, dehumanization, metadehumanization, prejudice, conflict, aggression

Recommended Citation

Kteily, N., & Bruneau, E. (2017). Darker Demons of Our Nature: The Need to (Re)Focus Attention on Blatant Forms of Dehumanization. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 26 (6), 487-494. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721417708230

Embargo Date

1-2019