The Allegory of the Clan: Dehumanization, Human Nature and Institutional Accountability

The Allegory of the Clan is a hypothetical thought experiment exploring human nature and institutional performance when checks and balances are weak. It examines how corruption, prejudice, and unchecked power undermine human capital, institutional integrity, and societal growth. An article below is offered for discussion purposes.

In our thought experiment learning story, a group of bad actors within an institution targets minorities, exploits women, retaliates against whistleblowers, and engages in other illegal or unconstitutional conduct. Rather than representing the institution as a whole, these individuals operate more like a gang than legitimate public servants. 

(Illustrative Only)
Depicting how
social contracts
are rooted in 
human dignity.

Social contracts
are general rules
of treatment. 
There is good, 
order, and justice
in our social contracts
so our duty is 
to protect and preserve.
We call these oaths.

Those who do not
preserve these
contracts are not
qualified for 
important roles
no matter how much
campaign money or
vetting-A party neutral statement.
 It is the 
people who should 
vet them based on 
skill and merit.

It was well known that this gang, squad, group, or clan were harming others but no one stood up to act until the community did. When courts and officials tolerate misconduct or enable perpetrators to profit from victims' suffering, dehumanization becomes embedded in the system. Two different legal structures form; the in group and out group.

Feel free to change around these questions a little. They are just sort of interesting to ponder. Remember this is just for mental exercise.

Learning lesson: Dehumanization and corruption thrive when individuals exploit unwritten rules and expectations in environments where checks and balances are weak/absent. 

A Philosophical Question: How might incentivizing dehumanization lead to further dehumanization of others? Are there collective concerns?

Economic Consideration: Could the acceptance of dehumanization elements lead to second class citizenship? Could it lead to lower overall human capital performance?

Moral Questions: Do we have a responsibility to treat others with dignity?  How might dignity be part of the Enlightenment movement and social contracts? i.e. moral conscious

The Allegory of the Clan is open to interpretation. Accept, reject, or modify the story as you see fit. There are no definitive answers, and we can still envision a positive ending grounded in accountability and institutional improvement. Take it with a grain of salt.

Vote for the best and brightest and not the most connected or vetted.

A Process Account of Dehumanization: Extending the Framework with a Developmental Research Agenda

• The article reviews research on dehumanization, which refers to perceiving or treating other people as less than fully human.
• The authors examine how research on dehumanization has developed over the past 25 years and discuss different conceptual and methodological approaches.
• The article proposes a process-based framework for understanding dehumanization, focusing on how dehumanizing perceptions emerge and develop.
• The authors highlight the importance of examining the developmental origins of dehumanization, including how these perceptions may form and change throughout life.
• The article identifies opportunities for future research to better understand the psychological and social processes involved in dehumanization.
• The proposed developmental research agenda may help researchers investigate how dehumanizing attitudes emerge and how they might be prevented or reduced.
• Overall, the article emphasizes the importance of understanding dehumanization as a process rather than simply as a fixed attitude or outcome.

Vaes, J., Dapor, C., Meconi, F., Quadrelli, E., Roberti, E., Ruzzante, D., & Testa, A. (2026). A process account of dehumanization: Extending the framework with a developmental research agenda. Behavioral Sciences, 16(6), Article 867. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16060867