A definition of dehumanization taken from Wikipedia:
Quote:
Dehumanization or dehumanization describes the denial of "humanness" to other people. It is theorized to take on two forms: animalistic dehumanization, which is employed on a largely intergroup basis, and mechanistic dehumanization, which is employed on a largely interpersonal basis.[1] Dehumanization can occur discursively (e.g., idiomatic language that likens certain human beings to non-human animals, verbal abuse, erasing one's voice from discourse), symbolically (e.g., imagery), or physically (e.g., chattel slavery, physical abuse, refusing eye contact). Dehumanization often ignores the target's individuality (i.e., the creative and interesting aspects of their personality) and prevents one from showing compassion towards stigmatized groups
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Personally, I would say they have used it extensively. In most areas of the anti-immigration debate, and specifically where UKIP is involved, we never hear of the lives of immigrants.. simply that immigrants are one collective group of people. We don't know their stories in any way whatsoever and I think UKIP exploits that in such a way that people have become oblivious to humanity. One forum member even recently suggested we use gas chambers for immigrants. This dehumanization tactic has lost people their empathy.