Emotion · Anger family
Contempt
noun
A feeling of superiority mixed with disgust toward another person — the sense that they are beneath you.
How it shows up in the body
A sneer, an eye-roll, a mocking laugh, looking down literally and figuratively.
What it is telling you
You have stopped seeing the other person as an equal. In relationships, contempt is one of the strongest warning signs of a breakdown.
The urge — and the choice
To mock, insult or dismiss. The choice is to find the unmet need under it and say that instead.
One thing to try
Translate the contempt into a complaint about one behavior, then into a request.
Practice it: I-statements.
Read more: Relationship management
