Torture has been with us for all of recorded history, often assuming an important role in juridical and legal systems. Despite a decades-long campaign, torture persists within many nations today, and is sometimes considered, or even implemented, as a policy and practice option in nations that otherwise would abjure its use. Here, we consider the possible relationships between the willingness to employ torture and psychological processes related to dehumanisation. There are multiple strands of evidence linking the use of dehumanising language against out-groups leading to violence against that outgroup. Dehumanising persons through language and policy can cause a ripple effect feeding through acts of violence and torture committed by state actors in the service of attaining and maintaining power and coercive control over minority out-groups.

有记载的历史以来，酷刑一直伴随着我们，通常在司法和法律体系中扮演重要角色。尽管进行了长达数十年的运动，但酷刑在当今许多国家仍然存在，有时甚至被视为国家的一项政策和实践选择，否则这些国家将放弃使用酷刑。在这里，我们考虑了使用酷刑的意愿与非人化相关的心理过程之间的可能关系。有多种证据表明，对外群体使用非人化语言会导致针对该外群体的暴力行为。通过语言和政策使人非人化可能会产生连锁反应，通过国家行为者为获得和维持权力以及对少数群体外的强制控制而实施的暴力和酷刑行为助长。