The Hidden Harm: How Couples Dehumanize Each Other

Researchers have found that couples might sometimes treat each other badly, a process called dehumanizing deindividuation. This happens when one partner disrespects, ignores, or controls the other. To understand this better, scientists created a new tool called the Dehumanizing Deindividuation in Couples (DDC) scale. They tested it with two groups of people and found that it was reliable and useful. The scale showed that when one partner acts mean, the other often does too, making it a two-way street. The DDC scale also helped predict how happy couples were and if they had any violence in their relationship. It turns out that actively treating your partner badly is worse than just not praising them. This new scale could help researchers learn more about how couples treat each other poorly.