Many people will lash out when they feel personally inadequate, as a way to make them seem superior to others. Jealousy and low self-esteem are main reasons for this type of behavior. Some people will portray others as a joke to make themselves appear more funny when in reality it just comes across as a cheap shot.
Why someone might belittle another person. Here are some potential contributors to the behaviour: They are trying to make themselves feel more powerful or important by putting someone else down. They have low self-esteem and need to build themselves up by making others feel inferior.
Belittling is the intentional act of making another feel worthless, empty, and dismissed. It is one of many forms of psychological and emotional abuse. Belittling another often creates a personal emptiness and void. It can create a sense of loneliness and despair in the lives of many.
Narcissists belittle others because they have their own insecurities, fears and flaws, and are afraid of having them exposed to others. In making hurtful comments to others, they reinforce their own feelings of importance and hide the low self-esteem and self-worth that may be lurking within.
They want to manipulate the person.
It could also be a person seeking to guilt trip someone into doing what they want them to do. Putting others down and belittling them can weaken their self-belief and assertiveness, making them easier to influence.
Tell the person that what they have said is belittling. If they don't understand why then explain how it makes you feel. Be specific. If what they have said fits one of the examples listed in the section above “How to Identify Belittling Language,” use the same language from that section to describe their behavior.
A narcissist will manipulate and control others to feel good, which is why they can be abusive in relationships. They can use aggression and be rude, offensive, and belittling towards their partners to wear down their self-worth. This can turn into a sadistic, abusive relationship.
To belittle means to put down, or to make another person feel as though they aren't important. Saying mean things about another person literally makes them feel "little." To belittle someone is a cruel way of making someone else seem less important than yourself.
Most of the time, our own friends belittle or mock us in front of other people in an attempt to gain their respect or approval. By putting you down, they are raising themselves up so that they appeal in the eyes of other people.
People with NPD may be intentionally arrogant, superior or vain. They will often act in a pretentious way in group settings, belittle others, and look to control conversations. While their self-concept is often an overinflated one, people with NPD typically have a fragile ego.
Emotional and psychological abuse can take many forms, including belittling, which can manifest as judging, humiliating, criticizing, trivializing or telling hurtful jokes. But belittling is no joking matter. It's a tactic often used by abusers to make their victims feel small, unimportant or disrespected.
Some common synonyms of belittle are decry, depreciate, and disparage.
One good reason why somebody wants to pull you down is that they feel threatened by your presence. A toxic person seeking something might feel afraid that you will take it from them. They might think that you are better than them regarding skills and talents.
Some people do it because they are insecure or jealous. They are trying to feel better about themselves by putting you down. Some do it because they are trying to impress someone or get attention. For example, the coworker that criticizes your work in front of the supervisor.
A criticizer. A bully. A critic, detractor, attacker, vilifier, fault-finder, nit-picker, carper, backbiter, disparager, belittler, knocker, denigrator, judge, etc……
Examples of condescending behavior include acting as if you know everything and are not open to new ideas, reacting to an upset with “well, that's never happened to me”, offering unsolicited advice (unless you are a supervisor), not being open to feedback, referring to people in the group in the third person (even if ...
“Condescending behaviors may include insulting or belittling comments, failure to recognize strengths or accomplishments, a dismissive attitude, or a holier-than-thou demeanor,” explains Oona Metz, LICSW, a psychotherapist in Boston, Massachusetts.
Trivializing is a subtle form of belittling behavior that minimizes your partner's accomplishments, experiences, or feelings. This might come in the form of statements like, "You're so sensitive" or "You're overreacting" during arguments. It can also look like mockery or putting down your partner's dreams.
Narcissists hate strong people that are not afraid to set boundaries and let them know their behavior is not acceptable. Since they crave power and control and may use manipulation or other tactics to maintain it.
Any perceived negative feedback, even if offered in gentle or productive ways, can easily result in outbursts of narcissistic rage. A narcissist cannot tolerate threats to their massive egos and grandiose self-image.
It is a way of making the partner feel insignificant to cut down their confidence. It may also be a kind of manipulation. A person may often use belittling comments to manipulate the other one into making them more dependable on someone so that the person loses confidence.