Week 14 - Identifying with All Humanity Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
A document (signed by the UN) that declared rights and freedoms for all people, regardless of race, sex, religion, or background.
Adopted on December 10, 1948.
How did early European explorers treat people they encountered?
They often dehumanized them, justifying conquest and slavery by seeing them as “less than human.”
Who was Bartolomé de Las Casas and why is he important?
A Spanish colonist who eventually opposed slavery and argued that all races are fully human and equal in dignity.
- “The entire human race is one.” – 1514
How did the meaning of “humanity” shift in the 20th century?
Before 20th C: Emphasis on individual positive human qualities
During 20th C: References shifted to explicitly include all human beings
- universal identity tied to rights and justice.
Who was H.G. Wells?
Wells’ book The Rights of Man (1940), helped popularize the idea that human rights should be universal.
- the book emphasized universality, nondiscrimination, and economic rights.
What was the Atlantic Charter?
A 1941 agreement between the U.S. and Britain stating that the goal of WWII was to protect freedom and human rights worldwide.
Who helped create the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
Eleanor Roosevelt and a team from many countries with different cultures and legal traditions.
What were some disagreements during the drafting of the Declaration?
Debates over religion, individualism vs. collectivism, and whether the UN should interfere in national affairs.
What is the International Criminal Court (ICC)?
A global court that prosecutes individuals for crimes against humanity, even if national laws don’t.
ICC = founded in 2002
What is the overall message of the human rights movement?
That all people belong to one human group, and protecting their rights is a global responsibility.
What does IWAH stand for?
Identification With All Humanity
What does IWAH measure?
IWAH measures the degree to which much someone:
- feels connected to all people globally
- cares about people globally
- sees people globally as part of their in-group.
What are the two main parts of IWAH?
- Bond – Feeling close to all humans
- Concern – Caring for and feeling responsible for them
How is IWAH related to morality?
People associate high IWAH with being moral and mature, even though they often attribute it to others more than themselves.
IWAH predicts…
- Concerns & knowledge of global
and humanitarian issues - Support for universal human rights
- Membership in humanitarian charities
or human rights organizations - Lower levels of dehumanization
What kinds of behavior are linked to high IWAH?
- Valuing in-group and out-group human lives equally
- Befriending people from other ethnic groups
- Intergroup forgiving
- Opposing torture and forced labor
- Volunteering and donating blood
What personality traits predict high IWAH?
- Openness to experience
- Empathy
- Universalism and tolerance
What traits are linked to lower IWAH?
- Social dominance orientation (SDO)
- Right-wing authoritarianism (RWA)
- Ethnocentrism
What was “The Family of Man” photo exhibit (1951)?
A collection of 503 photos from 68 countries meant to show humanity’s shared experience and reduce ethnocentrism.
What message did the 1970s show Big Blue Marble promote?
That people around the world are different but deeply connected—”folks are folks and kids are kids.”
What does Michael Jackson’s Heal the World (1992) express?
A call for compassion and unity across the human race.
What is the message of the film HUMAN (2015)?
It highlights shared human experiences across cultures, promoting empathy and understanding.
How can IWAH be strengthened?
- Empathy/compassion training
- Multicultural experiences (e.g., contact, art, food)
- Childhood experiences of care or diversity
- Personal suffering or helping others (e.g., Holocaust rescuers)
What collective factors can weaken IWAH?
- Cultural isolation
- Long-term hardship or conflict
- Group victimization
- Blind patriotism
