ABSTRACT
‘Tomorrow you will look back on this experience and laugh’, said no one who has been humiliated – ever! Humiliation: What exactly is this harbinger of negativity, both in its simplest and most complex forms? And why does it constantly get conflated in the realm of emotions and frequently underestimated as a catalyst for maladaptive behaviour? This chapter aims to delve deep into the everyday experiences of people who have perceived themselves as victims of humiliation, as well as those who humiliate, and closely examines its repercussions for the individual, situation specific cohorts, and even society at large. Elements such as a humiliation contagion effect, aggregate and cumulative humiliation, and the overall trauma and, customarily, resultant politics of humiliation will be investigated in order to better appreciate the powerful energy created by a humiliating moment or event, that can generate an insatiable appetite for neutralizing the same – usually, in highly destructive ways. Using familiar contemporary examples, as well as, classic global moments of humiliation, this author pays particular attention to the intimate relationship between the humiliated and their humiliator; an encounter oftentimes so intense that it is ultimately capable of figuratively consuming both victim(s) and perpetrator(s). Additionally, the role of the witness or bystander is highlighted as a crucial determining variable of the humiliation dynamic. As perceived humiliation oftentimes begets an unwavering desire to retaliate in kind, the importance of confronting the potential for psychological and physical harm, addressed in this chapter, will be critical.
