the race. The idea of the Jew as scapegoat, one who bears the blame for the mistakes of others became commonplace for rationalizing the Germans actions. " Most violent forms of group aggression are directed at other groups. The human tendency to disparage, distrust, and dislike other groups other than our own and view the out-group as faceless, stereotypic caricatures." This refers to negative traits depicted in the propaganda tactics used by the Third Reich. The use of cartoon characters which depicted Jews as dark-haired, dirty, fat, unshaven, and a big hook nose was distributed in schools and throughout Germany. "We tend to exaggerate differences between groups and minimize those differences that exist within the group." (Baron, Kerr, & Miller, 1992).Jeannine Burk , a holocaust survivor, whose mother was spared because she didnt fit the picture of being Jewish.. The stereotype of dark hair and the hook nose didnt apply though she was a Jew. She had blonde hair, blue eyes and was able to carry on as "just a person" working in a nursing home throughout the holocaust. (www.webmaster@holocaustsurvivors.org).A cognitive bias that combines with the intergroup processes to promote negative views about out-groups is illusory correlation. The propaganda used in Germany aided in the overall devaluations of the out-group - the Jews. It served to dehumanize the Jewish race because it is easier to hurt and kill "sub-humans" than to hurt or kill fellow human beings, thus reducing dissonance (Baron, Kerr, & Miller, 1992). "Cognitive dissonance - is a state of tension that occurs whenever an individual simultaneously hold two cognitions that are psychologically inconsistent. Since dissonance is unpleasant, people are motivated to reduce it." The German soldiers killed Jews, but believing Jews are sub-humans reduces the dissonance (Baron, Kerr, & Miller, 1992). This made the Jewish people not worthy of consideration because of this negat...
