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Helping you identify and deal with people who put you down
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You’re chatting with someone when they suddenly say something that makes you feel bad. They continue the conversation like nothing happened, but you’re pretty sure they insulted you. This sounds like a case of belittling, a type of bullying that’s often disguised as harmful jokes or "constructive" feedback. So, how do you know if you’re being belittled and what can you do about it? Keep reading to find out what belittling behavior is and why people do it.
Things You Should Know
- Belittling is a form of verbal bullying that aims to make someone feel small or inferior.
- If someone’s belittling you, they may say things like, “You’re stupid,” or “What makes you think you’ll succeed?”
- Stop a belittler by calling them out on their behavior. Then, clearly explain why what they said was hurtful.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
How to Stop Belittling Behavior
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Speak your mind. The best way to stop belittling behavior is to openly disagree with what’s being said (if it’s safe to do so). Calmly and clearly let the person belittling you know that you don’t agree with what they said. This can stop bullying behavior right in its tracks. [1] X Trustworthy Source StopBullying.gov Website run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services providing information related to identifying and preventing bullying Go to source
- Let’s say you’re studying with a friend, and they say, “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” even though you aced all your tests this school year. Take a deep breath, swallow, and respond with, “I kind of do. The last test was set up this way, and I spoke with Miss Smith after class to confirm what would be on it.”
- If speaking up doesn’t seem safe, walk away from the belittler and remove yourself from the conversation.
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Confront the belittler. Believe it or not, some belittlers don’t even realize they’re being belittling. To them, the comments may simply be harmless jokes or feedback. If what they said hurt you, be honest . Calmly explain why the comment(s) was hurtful. More often than not, they’ll correct their behavior if they care about you.
- Returning to our previous example, you may explain to your friend you’re studying with that, “I heard you when you said that I didn't know what I was talking about. It really hurt, distracted me from studying, and made me doubt myself. I wish you would trust me more and not say comments like that when we study together.”
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Pause and amplify what just happened. Deflecting with humor is defensive in the wrong direction and may escalate the situation. Instead, take a moment to pause and address what happened.
- For instance, you may respond to your study partner’s hurtful remark by saying something like, “Ouch, what's gotten into you? Come on, that hurts. We both know, I actually do know what I'm talking about. I wish you would trust me more.”
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Continue to stand your ground. Unfortunately, change doesn’t happen overnight. Stay persistent with protecting yourself from belittlers and have patience . Repetition and kindness can go a long way.
- Know that most bullies and belittlers put others down because they feel inferior and insecure about themselves. You never know what goes on behind closed doors, so always treat people with kindness , no matter how hurtful their comments may be. [2] X Research source
- If you feel like the belittler will never stop undermining you, talk to a counselor and consider ending the friendship or relationship. Remember, your happiness and well-being are the most important.
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References
- ↑ https://www.stopbullying.gov/kids/what-you-can-do
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/202104/how-handle-someone-who-puts-you-down
- ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/belittle
- ↑ https://www.workplacesthatwork.com/what-is-condescending-or-demeaning-behavior-and-why-you-should-care/
- ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/trivializing
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/202104/how-handle-someone-who-puts-you-down
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/bullying
- ↑ https://www.ditchthelabel.org/why-do-people-bully
- ↑ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cbl.30042
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