Dehumanization: How We Lose Our Humanity & Justify Harming Others

In this Spontaneous Conversation on the Share Life podcast, with Addison Blu Williams, and Ross Boone, we dive deep into the power of language — how it shapes perceptions, fuels division, and ultimately affects the way we see and treat others. 

From cultural representation in entertainment to the impact of online discourse, this conversation highlights the urgent need to humanize those we disagree with and expand our understanding of one another. Tune in for a nuanced discussion on identity, compassion, and the real-world impact of words. 

Conversation Inspiration

Our conversation is inspired by the words of Brene Brown on Marie Forleo TV 📺, the following quotes in particular.

"The process of dehumanization is the process that we use to slowly, primarily using words and images, nothing more. Dehumanization is the process of slowly moving people out. So here’s a group of people that we want to harm. It’s a group of people that we hate, a group of people that a leader has told us here, is the cause of all your pain and suffering. So we hate these people and we want to hurt them and we want to see them diminished. But they’re within this moral, protective zone that we have as humans.  So slowly over time we start using words and images of them that dehumanize them, that move them lowly and slowly and slowly into what we call moral exclusion. They no longer are protected by what we believe is human basic rights. And we see the process of dehumanization at the core of every genocide recorded in history.

We are slowly allowing ourselves to start using dehumanizing language to describe people with whom we disagree. Yes. Which then makes it okay to physically hurt them. And when we use dehumanizing language, it says much more about us than the people that we’re railing against. And I think honestly it chips away at our soul."

 - Brene Brown

Watch The full conversation between Marie Forleo and Brene Brown here.

Listen to This Conversation on the Share Life Podcast

Click here to listen in on Spotify directly, or click play below to immediately begin streaming.

You can also find this discussion on Pocket Casts, Itunes, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts under the name, Share Life: Systems and Stories to Live Better & Work Smarter or Jason Scott Montoya.

Connect With Ross & Addison

• Learn more about the TV Show Addison worked on, Paradise, now available on Hulu.
• Connect with Ross Boone. Check Out His Daily Devotional Artistic App.