Contempt

Contempt is a complex social and emotional expression often associated with a sense of superiority over another person or idea, its presence signalling a lack of respect, dismissal, or scorn. Paul Ekman added it to his six universal expressions of emotion, known as the Classic View, becoming the only asymmetrical expression on the list (Ekman & Friesen, 1986). Let’s explore contempt’s psychological underpinnings and supposed indicators.

Nonverbal Indicators of Contempt

One of the most recognizable expressions of contempt is the smirk, which involves a unilateral tightening of the mouth's corner, sometimes creating dimples or pulling towards the eye or ear (Matsumoto & Hwang, 2014). Other associated signals include:

• Eye rolling: A common gesture signifying exasperation, often accompanied by an eyebrow flash (Navarro, 2008).

• Dismissive gaze: Looking askance or deliberately away, indicating disregard.

• Thumb gestures: Thumbs protruding from pockets suggest a superior and in-control attitude (e.g. Paul Hollywood style). When hands are in pockets with thumbs outward, the individual might be concealing a dominant stance (Pease & Pease, 2006). Additionally, pointing with the thumb can convey ridicule.

• Haughty head flick: A brief backward movement of the head, sometimes combined with a small shake, signals disdain (Burgoon et al., 2016).

The above signals are not evidence of the presence of genuine feelings of contempt, nor are they universally perceived as contempt. However, they are widely adopted and associated with contempt in many countries.

Psychological and Social Contexts of Contempt

Contempt is not always a personal slight; it can be directed at an idea, a situation, or even an authority figure perceived as incompetent (Gottman & Levenson, 1992). It frequently emerges in hierarchical social settings:

• In interviews or interrogations, an individual who exhibits contempt towards an interviewer may perceive them as of lower status or unworthy of engagement (Vrij, 2008). Informants displaying contempt when asked to comply with requests may indicate distrust and unwillingness to cooperate (Vrij, 2008).

• In conflict scenarios, contempt is often displayed by an oppressed group towards their occupiers, signalling deep-seated resentment (Matsumoto et al., 2016).

Contempt can intensify over time, evolving into deep disrespect or even hatred. According to Haidt (2003), contempt is often accompanied by anger, sharing overlapping neurological pathways (Haidt, 2003). Additionally, research suggests that contempt is the last of the basic emotions to develop in childhood, signifying a moral judgment of perceived inferiority (Izard, 1977).

Contempt is fundamentally a feeling of superiority and detachment, often signifying that engagement with the target is unnecessary or beneath one’s status (Ekman, 2003). The physiological expression of contempt is often involuntary, which may explain why half the mouth leaks a smile, the other half supressing one. The action is triggered by the dimpler muscle (zygomaticus major), which pulls one corner of the mouth sideways—most commonly on the left side (Matsumoto & Hwang, 2014). One must be careful not to assume contempt when observing this, especially in someone who routinely smirks in this one-sided way, possibly due to the effects of a stroke.

Moreover, contempt can be displayed either upward (towards a person or group perceived as unjustly powerful) or downward (towards those deemed unworthy or incompetent). The impulse to look down upon the target further reinforces the hierarchical nature of the emotion (Gervais & Fessler, 2017).

Conclusion

Contempt is a powerful social signal that conveys moral superiority, disengagement, and disdain. Highly questionable in its claimed universality, it may often be wrongly perceived and misinterpreted due to its subtlety and the risk of conflation with similar emotions. Future research may explore its long-term effects on relationships and social cohesion.

References

• Burgoon, J. K., Guerrero, L. K., & Floyd, K. (2016). Nonverbal communication. Routledge.

• Ekman, P. (2003). Emotions revealed: Recognizing faces and feelings to improve communication and emotional life. Times Books.

• Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V. (1986). A new pan-cultural facial expression of emotion. Motivation and Emotion, 10(2), 159-168.

• Gervais, M. M., & Fessler, D. M. (2017). Contempt and the deep structure of affect. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 40, e225.

• Gottman, J. M., & Levenson, R. W. (1992). Marital processes predictive of later dissolution: Behavior, physiology, and health. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63(2), 221-233.

• Haidt, J. (2003). The moral emotions. In Handbook of affective sciences (pp. 852-870). Oxford University Press.

• Izard, C. E. (1977). Human emotions. Springer Science & Business Media.

• Matsumoto, D., & Hwang, H. S. (2014). Facial expressions. In The Oxford handbook of language and social psychology (pp. 47-60). Oxford University Press.

• Matsumoto, D., Frank, M. G., & Hwang, H. S. (2016). Nonverbal communication: Science and applications. SAGE Publications.

• Navarro, J. (2008). What every body is saying: An ex-FBI agent’s guide to speed-reading people. Harper Collins.

• Pease, A., & Pease, B. (2006). The definitive book of body language. Orion.

• Vrij, A. (2008). Detecting lies and deceit: Pitfalls and opportunities. John Wiley & Sons.