Self-hatred is a state of personal self-loathing or low self-esteem.
In psychology and psychiatry
The term "self-hatred" is used infrequently by psychologists and psychiatrists, who would usually describe people who hate themselves as "people with low
self-esteem".
Self-hatred, self-guilt and
shame are important factors in some or many
, especially disorders that involve a perceived defect of oneself (e.g. body dysmorphic disorder). Self-hatred is also a symptom of many personality disorders, including borderline personality disorder,
as well as mood disorders like depression. It can also be linked to guilt for someone's own actions that they view as wrongful, e.g.,
survivor guilt.
In social groups
Self-hatred by members of ethnic groups, gender groups, and religions is postulated to be a result of internalization of hatred of those groups from dominant cultures.
Ethnic groups
Women
Jews
Theodor Lessing, in his book,
Jewish Self-Hatred (1930), identified this as a pathology, “a manifestation of an over identification with the dominant culture and internalization of its prejudices.” There have been studies from sources stated in the scholarly research, “mental illness in Jews often derived from feelings of inferiority and self-hatred resulting from persecution and their subordinate position in society.”
The term has been used to label American Jews accused of hiding their identity “by converting or intermarrying and raising their children in another faith” to overcome sociopolitical barriers due to antisemitism in the United States.
LGBTQ+ individuals
Internalized
homophobia refers to negative stereotypes, beliefs, stigma, and prejudice about homosexuality and
LGBTQ people that a person with same-sex attraction turns inward on themselves, whether or not they identify as LGBTQ.
Related concepts
Self-deprecation
Self-deprecation is the act of belittling, undervaluing, or disparaging oneself, or being excessively modest.
It is often used as a form of humor and tension release,
but it also simultaneously normalizes self-hatred.
Self-harm
Self-harm is a psychological phenomenon in which subjects feel compelled to physically injure themselves (for example, the cutting, burning or hitting of oneself) as an outlet for self-hatred,
anxiety, or anger, and is related to numerous psychological disorders.
In some cases, self-harm can lead to accidental death or suicide due to its self-destructive nature. However, it is not a definitive indicator of either the desire to attempt suicide or even suicidal ideation.
See also
Further reading
-
Sander L. Gilman Difference and Pathology: Stereotypes of Sexuality, Race and Madness Cornell University Press, 1985.
