I have written here before about 'affective polarization' and the dehumanization to which it generally leads. Here I'm taking up a related but distinct topic, that of 'devaluation'.

My attention was brought to the topic by an article I read in which an explanation was offered for why most of the mass shooters have been white males, and the majority also quite young.

The author cited the trend to devalue young white men. I have noticed that trend for some time myself.

This is not the only detrimental devaluation affecting our society of course.

Think of the six decade long effort to devalue the family. Husbands were portrayed as ignorant and bumbling rubes. Wives were portrayed as domestic servants. Family sucks! Right?

Collectivists such as the Communists understood clearly that cohesive institutions like the family, the church and others needed to be devalued to the point of eradication if society was ever to be changed into a populace of ciphers ruled by despotic sociopaths.