Changes

Robert C. Solomon places contempt on the same [[continuum]] as resentment and [[anger]], and he [[argues]] that the [[differences]] between the three [[emotions]] are that resentment is directed toward a higher [[status]] [[individual]]; [[anger]] is directed toward an [[equal]] [[status]] individual; and contempt is directed toward a lower status individual. Contempt is often brought about by a combination of anger and disgust.

Robert C. Solomon places contempt on the same [[continuum]] as resentment and [[anger]], and he [[argues]] that the [[differences]] between the three [[emotions]] are that resentment is directed toward a higher [[status]] [[individual]]; [[anger]] is directed toward an [[equal]] [[status]] individual; and contempt is directed toward a lower status individual. Contempt is often brought about by a combination of anger and disgust.

==Characteristics==

==Characteristics==

Contempt has five "ugly" features. Contempt requires a [[judgment]] concerning the [[appearance]] or standing of the object of contempt. In particular, contempt involves the [[judgment]] that, because of some [[moral]] or [[personal]] failing or defect, the contemned [[person]] has [[compromised]] his or her standing vis-à-vis an interpersonal [[standard]] that the contemnor treats as important. This may have not been done [[Intentional|deliberately but by a lack of [[status]]. This lack of status may cause the contemptuous to classify the object of contempt as utterly [[worthless]], or as not fully meeting a particular interpersonal [[standard]]. Therefore, contempt is a [[response]] to a [[perceived]] failure to meet an interpersonal standard. Contempt is also a particular way of regarding or attending to the object of contempt, and this form of regard has an unpleasant [[effective]] element. However, contempt may be [[experienced]] as a highly visceral [[emotion]] similar to disgust, or as cool disregard.

Contempt has five "ugly" features. Contempt requires a [[judgment]] concerning the [[appearance]] or standing of the object of contempt. In particular, contempt involves the [[judgment]] that, because of some [[moral]] or [[personal]] failing or defect, the contemned [[person]] has [[compromised]] his or her standing vis-à-vis an interpersonal [[standard]] that the contemnor treats as important. This may have not been done [[Intentional|deliberately]] but by a lack of [[status]]. This lack of status may cause the contemptuous to classify the object of contempt as utterly [[worthless]], or as not fully meeting a particular interpersonal [[standard]]. Therefore, contempt is a [[response]] to a [[perceived]] failure to meet an interpersonal standard. Contempt is also a particular way of regarding or attending to the object of contempt, and this form of regard has an unpleasant [[effective]] element. However, contempt may be [[experienced]] as a highly visceral [[emotion]] similar to disgust, or as cool disregard.

Contempt has a certain comparative element. In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hume David Hume]'s [[studies]] of contempt, he suggests that contempt [[essentially]] requires apprehending the “bad qualities” of someone “as they really are” while [[simultaneously]] making a comparison between this person and ourselves. Because of this [[reflexive]] element, contempt also involves what we might term a “positive self-feeling” of the contemptuous. A characteristic of contempt is the [[psychological]] withdrawal or distance one typically feels regarding the object of one’s contempt. This psychological distancing is an [[essential]] way of [[expressing]] one’s non-identification with the object of one’s contempt and it precludes [[sympathetic]] identification with the object of contempt. Contempt for a [[person]] involves a way of [[negatively]] and comparatively regarding or attending to someone who has not fully lived up to an [[Relationship|interpersonal [[standard]] that the person extending contempt thinks is important. This form of regard [[constitutes]] a [[psychological]] withdrawal from the object of contempt.

Contempt has a certain comparative element. In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hume David Hume]'s [[studies]] of contempt, he suggests that contempt [[essentially]] requires apprehending the “bad qualities” of someone “as they really are” while [[simultaneously]] making a comparison between this person and ourselves. Because of this [[reflexive]] element, contempt also involves what we might term a “positive self-feeling” of the contemptuous. A characteristic of contempt is the [[psychological]] withdrawal or distance one typically feels regarding the object of one’s contempt. This psychological distancing is an [[essential]] way of [[expressing]] one’s non-identification with the object of one’s contempt and it precludes [[sympathetic]] identification with the object of contempt. Contempt for a [[person]] involves a way of [[negatively]] and comparatively regarding or attending to someone who has not fully lived up to an [[Relationship|interpersonal [[standard]] that the person extending contempt thinks is important. This form of regard [[constitutes]] a [[psychological]] withdrawal from the object of contempt.

The coping [[behaviors]] for contempt are neither labeled as withdrawal or approach (can be either). However, the main [[response]] of contempt lies within “publicized [[expression]] of low regard for the objects held in contempt” (Miller, C.H., 2008). By this [[reasoning]], a [[person]] holding contempt would not have the urge to openly [[confront]] the [[person]] with whom they are at odds with, nor would they themselves try to remove the object of contempt; rather, one who holds contempt would have the tendency to hold the view that others should remove the object of contempt, or hold the view that the object of contempt should remove itself. So while one would make their [[feelings]] known to others, the [[person]] with contempt would not [[necessarily]] want to directly deal with the situation at hand. One who is experiencing contempt would exhibit [[negative]] [[affective]] [[behaviors]] that may be labeled as “cold” – this simply [[meaning]] that one who is experiencing the [[emotion]] of contempt would tend to [[alienate]] those responsible.

The coping [[behaviors]] for contempt are neither labeled as withdrawal or approach (can be either). However, the main [[response]] of contempt lies within “publicized [[expression]] of low regard for the objects held in contempt” (Miller, C.H., 2008). By this [[reasoning]], a [[person]] holding contempt would not have the urge to openly [[confront]] the [[person]] with whom they are at odds with, nor would they themselves try to remove the object of contempt; rather, one who holds contempt would have the tendency to hold the view that others should remove the object of contempt, or hold the view that the object of contempt should remove itself. So while one would make their [[feelings]] known to others, the [[person]] with contempt would not [[necessarily]] want to directly deal with the situation at hand. One who is experiencing contempt would exhibit [[negative]] [[affective]] [[behaviors]] that may be labeled as “cold” – this simply [[meaning]] that one who is experiencing the [[emotion]] of contempt would tend to [[alienate]] those responsible.

==Facial expressions==

==Facial expressions==

Many [[research]] [[experiments]] have been conducted to [[decide]] if contempt is recognizable across [[cultures]] and some researchers believe contempt is too closely [[related]] to the [[emotion]] disgust. Even [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin Darwin] (1872) noted that contempt [[shares]] with [[moral]] disgust several common features and one can be mistaken for the other. Both contempt and disgust can fit into the hostility triad, sharing the disapproval of others, and can also be included in the ‘CAD triad’ as they exhibit the common theme of violation of moral [[ethics]]. Ekman and Friesen’s [[study]] that gave the first recorded percentages of more than 75% of all their samples distinguishing contempt over the other basic six [[emotions]]. Ekman and Friesen found the facial [[expression]] that [[universally]] signals contempt—a tightening and slight raising of the lip corner, primarily on one side of the face. They noted that contempt is the only [[emotion]] [[expressed]] asymmetrically.  

Many [[research]] [[experiments]] have been conducted to [[decide]] if contempt is recognizable across [[cultures]] and some researchers believe contempt is too closely [[related]] to the [[emotion]] disgust. Even [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin Darwin] (1872) noted that contempt [[shares]] with [[moral]] disgust several common features and one can be mistaken for the other. Both contempt and disgust can fit into the hostility triad, sharing the disapproval of others, and can also be included in the ‘CAD triad’ as they exhibit the common theme of violation of moral [[ethics]]. Ekman and Friesen’s [[study]] that gave the first recorded percentages of more than 75% of all their samples distinguishing contempt over the other basic six [[emotions]]. Ekman and Friesen found the facial [[expression]] that [[universally]] signals contempt—a tightening and slight raising of the lip corner, primarily on one side of the face. They noted that contempt is the only [[emotion]] [[expressed]] asymmetrically.