Dehumanizing others: How exposure to a dehumanized group impacts perceptions of humanness

Individuals often fail to acknowledge the humanness of others, especially those that are seen as part of an out-group, such as those who are mentally ill, homeless, or a part of an ethnic minority. The current study explored how exposure to a typically dehumanized group impacted perceptions of humanness. In particular, we explored two key components of dehumanization (Human Uniqueness and Human Nature) before and after the arrival of TentCity3 (TC3) on our campus. Results revealed that students dehumanized individuals that are homeless more before TC3 than after TC3 on traits related to Human Uniqueness, but not Human Nature. Our findings showcase that hosting a Tent City has some ability to positively impact perceptions of individuals that are homeless