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Resentment
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The word originates from French "ressentir", re-, intensive prefix, and sentir "to feel"; from the
Latin "sentire". The English word has become synonymous with anger and spite.
Resentment can be triggered by an emotionally disturbing experience felt again or relived in the
mind. When the person feeling resentment is directing the emotion at himself or herself, it appears
as remorse.
Contents
1 Quasi-psychology
1.1 Causes
1.2 Signs
1.3 Effects
2 Comparison with other emotions
3 Academic perspectives
4 Modern culture
5 See also
6 References
7 Further reading
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Quasi-psychology
Causes
Resentment can result from a variety of situations, involving a perceived wrongdoing from an
individual, which are often sparked by expressions of injustice or humiliation. Common sources of
resentment include publicly humiliating incidents such as accepting negative treatment without
voicing any protest, an object of regular discrimination or prejudice, envy/jealousy, feeling used or
taken advantage of by others, and having achievements go unrecognized, while others succeed
without working as hard. Resentment can also be generated by dyadic interactions, such as
emotional rejection or denial by another person, deliberate embarrassment or belittling by another
person, or ignorance, putting down, or scorn by another person.[4]
Signs
Effects
Resentment is most powerful when it is felt toward someone whom the individual is close to or
intimate with. To have an injury resulting in resentful feelings inflicted by a friend or loved one
leaves the individual feeling betrayed as well as resentful, and these feelings can have deep
effects.[7]
Resentment is an emotionally debilitating condition that, when unresolved, can have a variety of
negative results on the person experiencing it, including touchiness or edginess when thinking of
the person resented, denial of anger or hatred against this person, and provocation or anger arousal
when this person is recognized positively. It can also have more long-term effects, such as the
development of a hostile, cynical, sarcastic attitude that may become a barrier against other healthy
relationships, lack of personal and emotional growth, difficulty in self-disclosure, trouble trusting
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To further compound these negative effects, resentment often functions in a downward spiral.
Resentful feelings cut off communication between the resentful person and the person he or she
feels committed the wrong, and can result in future miscommunications and the development of
further resentful feelings.[8] Because of the consequences they carry, resentful feelings are
dangerous to live with and need to be dealt with. Resentment is an obstacle to the restoration of
equal moral relations among persons,[7] and must be handled and expunged via introspection and
forgiveness.
Psychologist James J. Messina recommends five steps to facing and resolving resentful feelings. (1)
Identify the source of the resentful feelings and what it is the person did to evoke these feelings, (2)
develop a new way of looking at past, present and future life, including how resentment has
affected life and how letting go of resentment can improve the future, (3) write a letter to the source
of the resentment, listing offenses and explaining the circumstances, then forgive and let go of the
offenses (but do not send the letter), (4) visualize a future without the negative impact of
resentment, and (5) if resentful feelings still linger, return to Step 1 and begin again.[4]
Resentment and spite also differ primarily in the way they are expressed. Resentment is unique in
that it is almost exclusively internalized, where it can do further emotional and psychological
damage but does not strongly impact the person resented. By contrast, spite is exclusively
externalized, involving vindictive actions against a (perceived or actual) source of wrong. Spiteful
actions can stem from resentful feelings, however.
Academic perspectives
Philosopher Robert C. Solomon wrote extensively on the emotion of resentment and its negative
effects on those who experience it. Solomon describes resentment as the means by which man
clings to his self-respect. He wrote that it is in this moment when humanity is at its lowest ebb.
Modern culture
The Alcoholics Anonymous organization cites resentment as the number one offender, and one of
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the greatest threats to an alcoholic.[10] Several of the Twelve Steps of AA involve identifying and
dealing with resentment as part of the path toward recovery, including acknowledging one's own
role in resentment and praying for the resentment to be taken away.[11]
Resentment can also play a role in racial and ethnic conflicts. Resentment is cited as having
infected the structure of social value, and is thus a regular catalyst in conflicts sparked by
inequality.[12] It can also be one of the emotions experienced during class conflict, particularly by
the oppressed social class.
See also
Anger Revenge
Cynicism Spite
Remorse Post-traumatic embitterment disorder
Ressentiment
References
1. TenHouten, W. D. (2007). General Theory of 9. Moore, Zella E.; Gardner, Frank L. (July 9,
Emotions and Social Life. Routledge. 2008). "Understanding Clinical Anger and
2. "Forgiveness and resentment". Violence: The Anger Avoidance Model".
3. Solomon R. C. (1993). The Passions: Emotions Behavior Modification.
and the Meaning of Life. Hackett Publishing. doi:10.1177/0145445508319282. Retrieved
4. "Handling Resentment". Livestrong.com. November 18, 2015.
Archived from the original on January 23, 10. AA Services. Alcoholics Anonymous: The Big
2011. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Book. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services,
5. Oatley, Keith; Keltner, Dacher; Jenkins, Inc., 4th edition; 2002.
Jennifer M. (2006). "Studies of the universality 11. http://www.hazelden.org/web/public
of facial expressions". Understanding /has61016.page
Emotions. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 8890. 12. McCarthy, Cameron; Rodriguez, Alicia P.;
ISBN 978-1-4051-3103-2. Buendia, Ed; Meacham, Shuaib; David,
6. "How To Get Rid Of Resentment". Retrieved Stephen; Godina, Heriberto; Supriya, K. E.;
August 2, 2013. Wilson-Brown, Carrie (1997). "Danger in the
7. Murphy, Jeffrie G. (1982). "Forgiveness and safety zone: Notes on race, resentment, and the
Resentment". Midwest Studies in Philosophy. 7 discourse of crime, violence and suburban
(1): 50316. security". Cultural Studies. 11 (2): 27495.
doi:10.1111/j.1475-4975.1982.tb00106.x. doi:10.1080/09502389700490151.
8. Stosny, Steven (June 2008). "Emotional Abuse: OCLC 222710414.
Is Your Relationship Headed There? You Might
be a Lot Closer than You Think!". Psychology
Today. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
Further reading
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