Contempt: The Emotion of Superiority

Contempt is a feeling of dislike and a sense of (usually moral) superiority over another person, group of people, and/or their actions. It is one of the least studied emotions, which is why some experts suggest not classifying it as a basic emotion or even as a separate feeling at all. This is not surprising: the original list of universal emotions by Dr. Paul Ekman, compiled during his groundbreaking research in New Guinea in the 1960s, did not include contempt. However, after extensive cross-cultural studies, Ekman later added it to the list.

Contempt can be described in words as: “I am better than you, and you are, in one way or another (or entirely), worse than me.” The most common trigger for this emotion is an immoral act by a person or group, toward whom you feel superior. Although contempt is a distinct emotion, it is often accompanied by anger, usually in a mild form such as irritation. Contempt is also frequently linked to certain stereotypes or prejudices: for example, people may feel contempt for politicians (for hypocrisy), the unemployed (for laziness), criminals (for ruthlessness), or uneducated people (for ignorance).

The Function of Contempt: Asserting Power and Status

The function of contempt is to assert power and status, as well as to signal superiority and a lack of need to agree or engage in conflict. Therefore, those who are unsure of their status are more likely to display contempt as a way to assert their superiority. Sometimes, people in “subordinate” positions or roles may feel contempt toward those with higher social, political, or legal status. Here are a few examples: teenagers may feel contempt for adults, employees for their bosses, or prisoners for their guards. While “upward contempt” is common, the reverse also occurs—when someone with a higher social “rating” feels contempt for those below them. This feeling of power and superiority is called “downward contempt” and can be either pleasurable or cause embarrassment and/or shame.

As with all emotions, the intensity of contempt varies. Since contempt is inherently tied to a socially constructed hierarchy, where some people are “above” and others “below,” the degree to which people feel contempt depends on how strongly they believe in this classification. People who genuinely believe that everyone is equal are unlikely to feel contempt for others. Nevertheless, most social structures have some kind of hierarchical classification, as it helps reward praiseworthy behavior and punish bad or unacceptable behavior.

Expressing Contempt

Contempt is the only emotion with a one-sided, asymmetrical facial expression. The typical facial features of contempt include a raised chin, allowing one to look down on another, and one corner of the mouth pulled up toward the nose. This facial expression is often called a sneer.

Common vocal signals of contempt include smug or disapproving sounds or tone of voice. Physically, people experiencing contempt often puff out their chest, stand upright, look down on others, and/or roll their eyes. Since everyone reacts differently to contempt, the sensations associated with it can vary greatly depending on the situation. Sometimes, feelings associated with anger (such as tension or heat) may be present, while at other times, sensations related to pleasure (a sense of elevation) may occur, which can also cause discomfort and/or awkwardness.

Contempt and Other Emotions

It is believed that the concepts of contempt, anger, and disgust are related, as all these emotions arise when moral codes of the community are violated.

Contempt and Disgust

These two emotions are closely related but still different. While both contempt and disgust can be directed at people and their actions, disgust can also be directed at sensory experiences—taste, smell, sight, sound, touch—while contempt cannot. Additionally, contempt involves a sense of superiority, whereas this is not a necessary component of disgust. Another difference is the physical reaction: disgust makes us want to move away from the source, while with contempt, we do not necessarily want to distance ourselves as much. Disgust causes unpleasant sensations and, in extreme cases, nausea, while the sensations experienced with contempt are not necessarily unpleasant and can sometimes even be pleasurable.

Contempt and Hatred

Both of these feelings are negative judgments toward another, which can be experienced separately or together. The key difference is that hatred is a judgment of another in the context of their hostility or danger, while contempt labels the other as inferior. For example, you might feel contempt for a very lazy person but not hate them, because they or their behavior do not pose a threat. Similarly, someone might hate a competitor because they threaten their business or quality of life, but not feel contempt for them, since the competitor is not considered inferior.

Contempt and Indignation

Indignation and contempt also often go hand in hand: if you hear about a politician stealing public money, you are likely to feel both emotions. However, the important difference is that indignation is triggered by specific actions (such as causing harm or stealing), while contempt is triggered by knowledge of a particular characteristic or trait (such as greed or ruthlessness). Thus, when you are indignant about someone’s actions, it does not necessarily mean you will feel contempt for them. If you believe the action was a one-time event and not a reflection of their character, contempt may be easily excluded from your overall emotional response.

The Impact of Contempt on Relationships

While some may enjoy the sense of power that comes with contempt, it has negative, destructive consequences for interpersonal relationships, as it fosters an “I’m right, you’re wrong” mentality. For example, the emergence of contempt in a marriage toward a partner is the most reliable predictor of divorce if steps are not taken to address the situation. So, the next time you notice a growing sense of contempt toward someone you have a meaningful relationship with, it may be worth pausing and examining it more closely.