Bestializing refers to the act of causing someone or something to become brutish, savage, and animalistic in nature or behavior. It implies a degradation of humanity, stripping away civilized qualities and replacing them with base instincts, cruelty, and a lack of reason. This process often involves subjecting individuals or groups to dehumanizing conditions, psychological manipulation, or physical violence, leading to a loss of empathy and moral restraint. It can apply to individuals, societies, or even the impact of particular ideologies or circumstances.
Bestializing meaning with examples
- The horrific conditions of the prison camp were designed to bestialize the inmates, breaking their spirits and forcing them to abandon any semblance of human dignity. The guards used starvation, torture, and constant humiliation to achieve this grim objective.
- The constant barrage of propaganda during wartime sought to bestialize the enemy, painting them as monstrous creatures to justify violence and hatred. This dehumanization made it easier to commit atrocities and fueled the cycle of conflict.
- Extreme poverty and social isolation can bestialize individuals, forcing them to prioritize survival above all else, leading to desperation and actions that they might not consider under normal circumstances. This highlights the impact of external forces.
- The novel explored how the trauma of war could bestialize soldiers, transforming them from ordinary men into hardened killers with a diminished capacity for compassion. The experiences left indelible marks upon them.
- Certain forms of entertainment, with gratuitous violence and sexual exploitation, have been criticized for bestializing the audience, desensitizing them to suffering and fostering a culture of depravity and objectification.