Humiliation: its nature and consequences

J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2010;38(2):195-204.

Abstract

In this article, we present a new analysis of what is involved when individuals undergo significant public humiliation. We describe the structure of humiliation-that is, the factors that, taken collectively, render certain life events and circumstances humiliating; the most common destructive consequences of being subjected to them; and several personality factors that, when present, can serve to amplify the damaging effects of humiliating experiences. The analysis is intended to enable forensic clinicians, lawyers, judges, and other relevant parties to understand better what happens when individuals are humiliated and to identify more precisely the damage that such persons sustain. It is also intended to have heuristic value for the discussion, confrontation, and alleviation of humiliation in correctional, jurisprudential, clinical, and general societal contexts.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Occupational / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Accidents, Occupational / psychology
  • Adult
  • Deception
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Dominance-Subordination*
  • Expert Testimony / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Female
  • Helplessness, Learned*
  • Human Rights / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control*
  • Life Change Events*
  • Male
  • Pedophilia / diagnosis
  • Pedophilia / psychology
  • Personality Disorders / diagnosis
  • Personality Disorders / psychology
  • Phobic Disorders / diagnosis
  • Phobic Disorders / psychology
  • Prejudice
  • Public Opinion*
  • Rehabilitation, Vocational / psychology
  • Rejection, Psychology
  • Risk Factors
  • Self Concept
  • Sexual Harassment / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Sexual Harassment / psychology
  • Shame*
  • Social Isolation