It is a sociopsychological[1] process which undermines or marginalises an entity by presenting facts and/or value judgments that are construed to withdraw legitimacy[2] and can in some cases be a self-justifying mechanism,[3] with the ultimate goal of justifying harm of an outgroup.
[4] The concept applies to a wide spectrum of social contexts ranging from disputes about political entities to chronic illnesses.
An early controlled study published in 1960 showed that "serious and violent conflict can change previously held positive views of the other group" as in the case of the 1959 border disputes between India and China, eventually leading to the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
Ambassador to the United Nations Daniel Patrick Moynihan accused the international body of delegitimising Israel by passing a "Zionism is racism" resolution.
[14] Arthur Kleinman found that a patients with a chronic illness experience delegitimation when doctors treat their description of pain or other symptoms as exaggerated or even untrue.