102,815
edits
Changes
no edit summary
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Liberties-airport-security-lady-liberty-humiliation.jpg|right|frame]]
==Origin==
Late Latin ''humiliatus'', past participle of ''humiliare'', from [[Latin]] ''humilis'' low — more at [[humble]]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1534]
==Definition==
*1: to reduce to a lower [[position]] in one's own eyes or others' eyes
==Description==
[[Humiliation]] is the abasement of [[pride]], which creates mortification or leads to a state of being [[humbled]] or reduced to lowliness or submission. It can be brought about through [[bullying]], [[intimidation]], [[physical]] or [[mental]] mistreatment or trickery, or by [[embarrassment]] if a person is revealed to have committed a socially or legally unacceptable [[act]]. Whereas [[humility]] can be sought alone as a means to de-emphasise the [[ego]], humiliation must involve other person(s), though not necessarily directly or willingly. [[Acting]] to humiliate yourself may be linked to a [[personal]] [[belief]] (as with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortification_of_the_flesh mortification] of the flesh, with some religions), or it can be part of [[erotic]] humiliation where the belittling activity provides [[emotional]] and/or [[sexual]] arousal or heightened sensation.
Humiliation is currently an active [[research]] [[topic]], and is now seen as an important - and [[complex]] - core dynamic in human [[relationships]], having implications at intrapersonal, interpersonal, [[institutional]] and international levels.
Donald Klein described humiliation as "a powerful [[factor]] in human affairs that has, for a variety of reasons, been overlooked by [[students]] of [[individual]] and [[collective]] [[behavior]]. It is a pervasive and all too destructive [[influence]] in the behavior of individuals, groups, [[organizations]], and nations." That [[statement]] captures the degree to which humiliation affects our lives, ranging from the deeply [[personal]] right up to global levels.
Even though it is a [[subjective]] [[emotion]], it has a [[universal]] aspect which applies to all [[human being]]s: "it is the [[feeling]] of being put down, made to feel less than one feels oneself to be." This feeling can be felt as an [[individual]] (as when one feels [[offended]] by another) or as a [[community]], group or nation.
[[Feelings]] of humiliation can produce 'humiliated [[fury]]' which, when turned inward can result in [[apathy]] and [[depression]], and when turned outward can give rise to [[paranoia]], sadistic behaviour and fantasies of [[revenge]]. Klein explains, "When it is outwardly directed, humiliated fury unfortunately creates additional [[victims]], often including [[innocent]] bystanders ... . When it is inwardly directed, the resulting [[self]]-[[hate]] renders victims incapable of meeting their own needs, let [[alone]] having energy available to [[love]] and care for others." He goes on to say, "In either case, those who are consumed by humiliated fury are [[absorbed]] in themselves or their cause, wrapped in wounded pride..."
Not all acts of humiliation are [[intentional]]. They can be committed quite accidentally. Sometimes, [[feelings]] of humiliation can arise simply because of misunderstandings.
Because these [[feelings]] can have very destructive [[consequences]], ranging from interpersonal [[conflict]] to international [[terrorism]], it has called them the "[[nuclear bomb]] of the [[emotions]]." With an awareness of the emotional [[power]] created by humiliation, those feelings can - albeit with considerable [[effort]] - be turned into a force for constructive [[action]], as exemplified by people such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi Gandhi] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela Nelson Mandela].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humiliation]
[[Category: Psychology]]