As income inequality grows, welfare state worsens and social issues that affect our social life aggravate. Nevertheless, many citizens oppose social-welfare policies that seek to alleviate the suffering of many. In this article, we addressed one of the key factors that undermines social change and promotes the maintenance of the status quo: The tendency to (de)humanize both poor and wealthy groups. To do this, we first explained how those at the bottom of the society are perceived as irrational animals, while the groups at the top are seen as unemotional machines. Secondly, we focused on analyzing how animalization (vs. humanization) of the poor leads to a rejection of redistribution policies, due to the perception that poor groups are responsible for their plight. Thirdly, we addressed how mechanizing (vs. humanizing) wealthy groups leads people to support redistribution policies as a consequence of considering that these groups are increasing their wealth through illegitimate means. Finally, we concluded by pointing out how animalizing the poor and humanizing the wealthy seems to be the key combination in maintaining income inequality. While, by humanizing those who have less and mechanizing those who have more, the support for income inequality is defied.
