Humiliation: Mental Health and Public Shame

by Marit F. Svindseth, Paul Crawford

There is a global appetite to humiliate or publicly shame others and this has even become a source of entertainment for many. The growth and all-encompassing influence of social media has made the phenomenon of humiliation even more apparent and possible. This book examines the damaging impact of humiliation in human society. The relationship between humiliation and shame is explored in depth with a particular focus on the way this relationship affects people’s self-image, self-esteem and memory. By using case studies of observed humiliation, the book discusses the power play between individuals, groups, organizations and nations. It shows how public shame can lead to damaging psychological states and violent responses amongst vulnerable people. This topical book presents an important and timely discussion for today’s world, not least in showing the links between humiliation, terrorism and poor mental health. By offering strategies for responding to feelings of humiliation in a range of contexts, this book will prove a valuable resource for professionals concerned with mental health, public health, education and social care. Importantly, this is a book for all those affected by humiliation who want to take action and find new solutions for dealing with it.

137 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2019

Reviews

[Kevin K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humiliation is defined as a sudden loss in social status, and that connection with status is what originally piqued my curiosity. The 21st century is definitely a status and signaling obsessed age, with humiliation rituals like social shaming and Internet pile-ons. At the same time, status is one of the most primitive aspects of human culture, tracing back as it does to primate status hierarchies.

This book is only a quick intro to the topic of humiliation, but it highlights a number of important issues. One example is the extreme intensity of humiliation as an emotion. It's remarkable when you think about it. People can vividly recall insults to their dignity 50 years later. Suicide, murder, and revenge are often the consequence of humiliation. Even ethnic groups and nations are driven to avenge humiliation: consider Germany after WWI, or modern China's quest to rectify its century of humiliation. Many terrorists are also motivated by a perceived humiliation of their in-group. Humiliation is a lot more important in human affairs than it seems at first glance.

Svindseth and Crawford illustrate humiliation with a number of case studies, and end with a series of recommendations for tamping down humiliation and its effects. I found this last part to be well-meaning and useful for specific cases, but wishful thinking at larger scales. In my view, status-striving is an inevitable feature of human societies, and social media is making it worse. Humiliation isn't going to go away or improve.