DEHUMANIZING THE UNDEAD VS. SURVIVORS

We’ve seen the scenario play out in almost every zombie film and television series; a survivor is unable to kill their undead friend or family member, and that hesitation ultimately leads to their own demise. It’s entirely understandable that any healthy and compassionate human being would waver during such a situation. But in order to kill the living dead, we may need to engage in the psychological process of dehumanization. However, once you begin to deny compassion and civility to your fellow survivors, this practice can lead to a very dark place.

The definition of dehumanization is “to deprive of human qualities or attributes; divest of individuality”. In practice, it allows someone to view others as less than human and use those feelings to justify hate, cruelty, and ultimately murder. But does this definition really apply to the living dead? Can you actually “murder” the undead? Are zombies somehow still human?

The truth is that we simply don’t know; at least not yet. But perhaps it doesn’t really matter. We assume that the details of any undead virus won’t matter when it comes to your former friends or family members. Trying to convince yourself that a loved one is no longer human or worth your compassion and empathy isn’t a rational process. Unfortunately, dehumanizing your fellow survivors is much easier, and many of us have already begun the process.

…research on dehumanization indicates that the process is associated with moral disengagement whereby a person or group are classified as less than human, and thus less deserving of moral consideration. In other words, when a rival person or group is dehumanized they are seen as undeserving of moral concern. When this occurs, unfair treatment, derogation, and even aggression are then easily justified and rationalized. Once this process is underway it may become self-reinforcing, as research indicates perceived dehumanization prompts dehumanization as a response.

This article by Sean Steven summarizes a recent study by Erin C. Cassese, which shows that dehumanization is often self-reinforcing. These findings repeatedly play out on social media where users refer to people they have never met as “stupid”, “toxic” or “irredeemable”. And things quickly take a turn when their demeaning rhetoric inevitably turns to dehumanizing language like “garbage” and “monsters” before eventually using the term “inhuman” itself.

Once you’ve reduced your fellow survivors to something that you consider inhuman, murder is no longer a moral conundrum. Disengagement becomes your prime directive; mute, block, and dehumanize. If you find yourself engaging in “two minutes hate” publicly, whether online via social media or in-person among friends, you may need to reevaluate your mental health.

The Zombie Research Society believes that a zombie is defined as a relentlessly aggressive human, or reanimated human corpse, driven by a biological infection. And in that definition you will find the true enemy; not your fellow human beings, not your fellow survivors, and certainly not some anonymous Facebook user. The apocalypse will make these things clear.

Dehumanization is an awful psychological tool. It can absolutely destroy the sensitive and weak. However, it can be properly used to prepare yourself mentally for killing the inevitable zombie hordes. Just make sure that you aren’t already implementing it for the wrong reasons!