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Affective dimensions of intergroup humiliation
Bernhard Leidner1, Hammad Sheikh, Jeremy Ginges
1Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America. bleidner@psych.umass.edu
Plos One
|October 3, 2012
Summary
Humiliation is characterized by powerlessness and outrage, differing from anger and shame. This empirical study clarifies humiliation
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Theoretical claims on humiliation abound, yet empirical research is scarce.
- Understanding humiliation's affective characteristics is crucial for human relations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically investigate the affective characteristics of humiliation.
- To compare intergroup humiliation with anger and shame.
Main Methods:
- Examined the emotional experience of humiliation.
- Compared humiliation's characteristics to anger and shame.
Main Results:
- Humiliation features low guilt and high other-directed outrage (similar to anger).
- Humiliation involves high powerlessness (similar to shame).
- Distinctive profile differentiates humiliation from anger and shame.
Conclusions:
- Humiliation's unique blend of outrage and powerlessness informs its impact.
- Perceptions of injustice and undeserved treatment explain similarities/differences.
- Findings have implications for understanding humiliation's behavioral consequences and social role.
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