Dehumanization

dehumanization

[dihyo̅o̅′mənīzā′shən]

Etymology: L, de, from, humanitas, human nature

the process of losing altruistic or individual qualities, as may occur in some psychotic states or in environments that produce emotional trauma (prisoner-of-war). It may be influenced by external forces.

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Dehumanization

The stripping of human qualities from people or from situations involving people, as an expediency that allows the policy makers (in a totalitarian state) to justify untenable situations, as the persons of interest are ‘less than human’