The Three "D's" of Groupism

In an increasingly interconnected world, the persistence of prejudice and division remains one of humanity's greatest challenges. At the Center for Human Equality (CHE), we confront these issues head-on by promoting Ethical Individualism—a human relational philosophy that recognizes the infinite value and uniqueness of every human being.

Central to our mission is exposing and dismantling Groupism, a pervasive form of judgmentalism that evaluates and condemns individuals not on their own merits, actions, or character, but solely based on their perceived membership in a group.

Groupism manifests in statements such as "all Jews are evil people," "all Christians are homophobic," "all whites are privileged," or any blanket generalization that paints an entire category of people—whether defined by ethnicity, religion, nationality, gender, or ideology—with the same brush.

This reductive thinking ignores the vast diversity of thought, experience, and behavior within any group, replacing nuanced understanding with immoral stereotypes.

Groupism operates through a destructive progression known as the three "D's": Dehumanization, Deindividuation, and Destruction.

Each stage builds on the previous, eroding human relations and paving the way for escalating harm. Understanding these stages is essential to combating Groupism and fostering a society rooted in Ethical Individualism.

The First "D": Dehumanization

Dehumanization is the foundational step of Groupism. When we categorize people into groups and assign moral judgments to the group as a whole, we inevitably strip away their humanity. By judging individuals primarily—or exclusively—through the lens of group membership, we deny their humanity since all human beings are unique.

A person ceases to be seen as a unique being with their own dreams, struggles, virtues, and flaws; instead, they become a mere representative of a collective label. This process lowers the perceived value of every human being in the targeted group.

Rather than recognizing the infinite worth inherent in each person—a core tenet of Ethical Individualism—Groupism reduces them to interchangeable parts of a monolith, often portrayed as inferior, threatening, or morally defective. Historical examples abound: propaganda depicting certain ethnic groups as "rats" or "subhuman" during genocides, or contemporary rhetoric that labels entire political or religious communities as inherently evil.

Dehumanization poisons human relations by creating an "us versus them" divide, where empathy is withheld because the "other" is no longer viewed as fully human. It justifies discrimination, exclusion, and indifference to suffering, all while eroding the moral foundation that should guide interactions between individuals.

The Second "D": Deindividuation

Deindividuation follows inevitably from dehumanization. Once a group has been dehumanized, the uniqueness of every human being within it is erased. Individuals are no longer seen as distinct persons but as faceless embodiments of the group's supposed traits.

This loss of individuality—deindividuation—completes the transformation of people into abstractions.In this stage, personal accountability and personal redemption become impossible in the eyes of the Groupist (racist, antisemite). 

A person's good deeds, growth, or divergence from stereotypes are dismissed as exceptions or deceptions. The individual is submerged into the group identity, their voice silenced, and their agency denied. This not only harms the targeted individuals, whose humanity is obliterated, but also distorts the perpetrator's perception, fostering a worldview built on falsehoods rather than reality.

Deindividuation deepens relational harm by making genuine connection impossible. How can one form meaningful bonds, collaborate, or resolve conflicts with someone who is not seen as a singular, irreplaceable person?

Ethical Individualism counters this by insisting that every interaction be grounded in recognizing the other's infinite value and unique essence, allowing for authentic understanding and mutual respect.

The Third "D": Destruction

The furthest and most tragic extent of Groupism is Destruction—the active or passive endorsement of harm against members of the group simply because of their membership. When individuals have been fully dehumanized and deindividuated, their lives lose protective moral weight. Destruction can range from social ostracism and economic sabotage to violence and, in extreme cases, murder or genocide.

History bears grim witness: the Holocaust, the Rwandan genocide, the Armenian genocide, and countless other atrocities began with Groupist rhetoric that dehumanized and deindividuated entire populations, making their destruction seem justifiable or even necessary.

In milder but still damaging forms, Destruction appears in hate crimes, mob violence, or policies that systematically disadvantage groups while ignoring individual circumstances.

This final "D" represents the ultimate failure of human relations. Where Ethical Individualism teaches that every human life possesses infinite value—deserving of protection, nurture, and celebration—Groupism's progression culminates in treating certain lives as expendable.

Toward a Better Path: Embracing Ethical Individualism

The three "D's" of Groupism illustrate a clear trajectory: from judgmental categorization to the erosion of humanity, and ultimately to relational and physical destruction. To halt this cycle, we must reject Groupism in all its forms and embrace Ethical Individualism.

By committing to see and judge each person as an individual—with infinite inherent value—we restore dignity, foster empathy, and build stronger, more harmonious relations.

The Center for Human Equality calls on all people to examine their own thinking, challenge group-based judgments, and engage with others as unique human beings. Only through this conscious shift can we create a world where human relations are elevated, not eroded, and where the infinite worth of every individual is upheld as the guiding principle of all societies.