Dehumanization in Elie Wiesel’s Night

What separates us from animals? What makes us human? Physical: biological aspects Psychological: our mind as a function of awareness and emotion Social: relationships with others and how we function in a community Physical Psychological Social

Possible answers Physical: opposable thumbs, walk upright, able to have a logical conversation Psychological: high level of intelligence, able to forgive, able to value. Able to reason, able to solve problems Social: able to love, need for acceptance, need for respect, need for others

Abraham maslow He was smart but shy, and remembered his childhood as lonely and unhappy. Maslow went to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin to study psychology. He began to investigate primate (monkey) behavior and sexuality. A Forerunner of positive psychology. Radically different view of human nature. Rejected ideas of Freud and Skinner.

Maslow rejected Freud’s ideas Psychoanalysis based on what went wrong. Theories based on clinically ill patients. Repressing strong sexual urges. Animal passions. “Why pick the wolf?”

Maslow’s beliefs Positive instincts to fulfill human potential. Theories based on study of successful, healthy people (interviews). Strong motivating force to do good. Be the best that they could be. Self-actualization.

Belongingness & Love Needs Maslow’s Safety Needs Belongingness & Love Needs Physiological Needs Esteem Needs Self- Actualization Hierarchy Of Needs

Hierarchy of Needs Critical Thinking Questions: Why is the fulfillment of these needs so important? What could take place if someone is denied these needs? Hierarchy of Needs The hierarchy has five levels: Physiological Needs: oxygen, water, protein, salt, sugar, calcium and other minerals and vitamins, shelter and sleep etc. Safety Needs: security, stability, protection from physical and emotional harm Belongingness & Love Needs: affection, belonging, acceptance, friendship, community Esteem Needs: (Internal ones are need for self-respect, confidence, autonomy, and achievement. External ones are need for respect of others, status, fame, glory, recognition and attention.) Maslow feels these are the roots to many, if not most of our psychological problems. Self-actualization: (doing that which maximizes one’s potential and fulfills one’s innate aspirations)

Dehumanization Dehumanization: To deprive of human qualities such as individuality and compassion. It is a psychological, and gradual process.

Dehumanizing behaviors & a few facts Stereotyping Degrading Verbal abuse Physical abuse Racism Discrimination Harassment/sexual or otherwise Denial of rights When a person is continually dehumanized, their human qualities are being slowly stripped away They become angry, more apt to lash out at others, alienate themselves from others, feel unloved, and the process can worsen from that point on They begin to exhibit dehumanized behaviors

Consider Hitler's final solution Esteem Needs: Jews’ jobs are boycotted then taken awat “Nuremburg Laws”—proclaim Jews as second class citizens Jews are forced to wear a yellow star Safety Needs: Rumors of Hitler’s plans to exterminate Jews Deportation to concentration camps Love Needs: Families are separated Prisoners treated cruelly Biological Needs: Food is rationed then completely taken away Forced to suffer winter weather without sufficient clothing or warmth

Individual assignment Locate 7 examples of how the prisoners are dehumanized and how they exhibit dehumanized behaviors . Make a chart explaining whether or not the conflict used to dehumanize is internal (psychological) or external (physical). Write an explanation for each example explaining exactly why the prisoners are behaving in an inhuman way (your answers should address how the prisoners are demonstrating the slow deterioration of their human qualities).

Example chart Dehumanized Behavior Type of Conflict Conflict Used to Dehumanize Franek wants Elie’s golden crown possibly o sell for more food. He beats Elie’s father until Elie gives in. External The SS starve the prisoners

Dehumanization: Safety Action: Hitler forced Jews to be deported to concentration camps which caused fear and confusion. Example of dehumanized behavior: The Jews beat Mrs. Schachter on the train (Wiesel 24). As the Jews become increasingly terrified about their situation, they become more like animals fighting for their safety. Hitler took away their feeling of safety so when Mrs. Schachter began to frighten them on the train, they beat her to shut her up. They are slowly losing their connection to each other and at this point in the book, the Jews are adopting an “every man for himself” attitude.