Objectification and (De)Humanization

The book "Objectification and (De)Humanization" offers a comprehensive analysis of the complex processes through which humans attribute human or less human characteristics to both non-human and human actors. It examines the phenomena of anthropomorphism and humanization, where humans assign human traits and qualities to animals, objects, or even natural forces. In contrast, objectification describes the treatment of people as things, thereby ignoring their personality and capacity for feeling. These two concepts are viewed as a continuum that has far-reaching implications for daily human behavior, interpersonal interactions, violence, discrimination, and mental health. The book brings together various theoretical and empirical approaches to systematically investigate the motivations behind these processes and illuminate their significance for society.