by Karen Yvonne

Created on: December 12, 2008   Last Updated: May 12, 2010

Understanding the role of humiliation in human behavior is critical if we want to reduce violence and suffering in the world. We, either as individuals or as groups, have different humiliation triggers and react, or cope, with humiliation differently. Coping methods run the gamut from revenge to acceptance and forgiveness.

Humiliation is the result of the abasement of an individual or group's pride, dignity or honor. It may be the most powerful driving factor there is behind human behavior. It invokes strong feelings of embarrassment, shame and inferiority. It can spur violent reactions that include revenge, suicide, murder, political uprising, war and terrorism. It is commonly thought that Hitler's rise to power and the start of World War II were a result of the humiliation of the German people after World War I.

While violent reactions are extreme, they are not uncommon. Gang violence is frequently triggered as an act of revenge against someone (or group) that makes an individual member, or the group as a whole, feel that they have been disrespected. Murderous acts have been committed by people who feel humiliated over job loss and cheating spouses. Suicide is a tragic reaction to the humiliation some young people feel as a result of the bullying and taunting of others.

Humiliation avoidance is one of the strongest motivators there is. However, it can cause us to be secretive, manipulative and dishonest. It can limit or ruin our relationships, stunt our personal development and prevent us from achieving all that God intended us to.

Because it is such a powerful "tool", humiliation has been used to control societal groups, to punish, intimidate, incite fear and as an initiation or interrogation tactic.

There are two parties to an act of humiliation. The humiliator can be an individual, group, country, event, regulation or circumstance. Although we generally think of the humiliated party as being an individual, it can also be a group or even an entire country.

Humiliation may be intentional, as when it is used to control or oppress groups of people, or accidental as when someone is unaware of norms in a culture that is different from their own. It can be triggered by discovery of an individual's disregard for regulations, as when a bank officer is caught falsifying loan documents, or by circumstances beyond an individual's control, such as economic downturn and subsequent job loss.

The best way to deal with humiliation is to prevent its occurrence. We can partially

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