Toward a Forensic Neuropsychoanalysis?

In his opinion article, “A Functional and Neuroanatomical Model of Dehumanization” (Mendez, 2023), Mario F. Mendez addresses the topic of dehumanization. Mendez is a behavioral neurologist with extensive research on frontotemporal dementia and its impact on cognition. He begins by briefly describing, following Haslam’s dual model of dehumanization (Haslam, 2006), the scarce evidence regarding its neurobiological bases. In his opinion article, dehumanization is described as “the act of depriving others of human qualities or demeaning their humanity” (Mendez, 2023, p. 42). Research in this area is considered by the author as an urgent matter, since some forms of dehumanization involve withholding empathy from others, thus facilitating mistreatment of outgroups.

He goes on to succinctly review the neuroscientific evidence distinguishing “animalistic” and “mechanistic” dehumanization. Animalistic dehumanization involves perceiving outgroup individuals as lacking human traits, specifically in terms of sophisticated emotions, for example, Panksepp’s tertiary-process emotions and competences (Panksepp, 2011). This may result in feelings of disgust or disdain, and the devaluing of others with risk of violence. The implicated neuroanatomical regions include the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), specifically the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) since it is involved in the inhibition of emotional contagion, empathy, and the mirror neuron network. Interestingly, these regions respond to social hierarchy judgments and to cues of high social status.

Mechanistic dehumanization involves a perceived lack of essential human features, that is, denying the other has a mind with similar thoughts, intentions and a sense of agency. This results in feelings of indifference, thus objectifying others. The implicated neuroanatomical regions include the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) and the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (gACC), critical areas for mentalization and for detecting