Human history is replete with instances of conflict, war, and violence, but if you have felt that the world is experiencing an increase in violent conflict, you would be correct. According to the United Nations, two billion people, or a quarter of the world’s population, now lives in a conflict-affected area. That’s one in four people and that is not counting the vicarious exposure the rest of the world population has through a non-stop news cycle and social media posts that can often be polarizing, further increasing the rift between people.
While various factors contribute to these unfortunate events, one common thread that runs through many of them is the phenomenon of “otherization.” Otherization refers to the psychological process of viewing individuals or groups as fundamentally different from oneself, often leading to dehumanization, discrimination, and conflict. In this article, I want to explore why people otherize each other and delve into the profound psychological impact of propaganda, which frequently plays a pivotal role in driving people to war and violence. I admit that a small article is not sufficient for such a vast topic, but that should not prevent anyone from at least scratching the surface to see what lies beneath.