Holocaust and Genocide Studies Unit 1 Vocab

Single Story

A one-dimensional and often stereotypical about a person, place, or culture, that is presented as the truth

Stereotype

A belief about an individual based on the real or imagined characteristics of a group to which that individual belongs.

Prejudice

When we form an opinion on an individual or group based on a negative stereotype.

Discrimination

When we treat an individual or group negatively due to prejudice

Universe of Obligation

The group of individuals within a society “toward whom obligations are owed, to whom rules apply, and whose injuries call for amends.”

Sovereignty

The ability of a nation to control their own affairs and govern themselves.

Raphael Lemkin

A Polish lawyer that created the term genocide

Genocide

The systematic mass-killing of a group of people based on ethnicity, nationality, religion, or race

Classification

People are classified into two different groups

Symbolization

Names or other symbols are given to the classification

Dehumanization

When one group treats another as second-class citizens or as less than human

Organization

Plans are made for genocidal killings

Polarization

Driving groups apart with hate and prejudice

Preparation

Planning and preparing for the final killings, and making the population fear the victim group

Persecution

Victims are arrested and deported, and genocides begin

Extermination

The mass killing accelerates and becomes “genocide”

Denial

The perpetrators try to cover up what they did and block investigations and deny it every happened

Mass Killing

An event in which multiple people are murdered

Crimes Against Humanity

A deliberate act that causes human death and/or suffering on a large scale