We often complain about how cruel the world is to us. Our censure falls on the malicious judgments of colleagues, the aggression emanating from teenagers, the ruthless attitude of we althy officials towards people lower on the social ladder. What is cruelty? How to deal with it? We will look for the answer to these difficult questions not only in the reality around us, but also in the depths of our own consciousness.
Characterization of the concept
General psychology describes in detail what cruelty is. According to experts, this is the desire, ability and ability to inflict pain and suffering on people, animals, nature. A person in a fit of rage can pounce with his fists not only on the interlocutor, but also on ordinary household items: he breaks furniture, smashes vases, destroys equipment. You will say that it is impossible to be cruel to inanimate things. Yes, this is partly true. But in this case, the outburst of negative emotions is indirect. After all, in this way an individual acts cruelly not with things, but with the person who bought them, spent the money he earned, and lovingly furnished his home.
The most common formcruelty is childish. At first, it arises due to ignorance: the baby does not understand that by crippling the cat, he brings her pain. Over time, upbringing and age bear fruit, the child develops compassion, sympathy, the ability to empathize. In this case, cruelty is easily eliminated. If the baby deliberately injures a living organism and enjoys it, the help of psychologists is simply necessary here.
Causes of occurrence
We are not born evil people. These people become, having experienced severe trauma or stress. This usually happens in childhood, when the fragile psyche cannot cope with deep feelings. Watching conflicts and assault in the family, the baby becomes hardened, becomes aggressive. There may be several reasons: he copies the behavior of the one who hurts, or he sympathizes with the victim and shows anger towards the entire human race because of the suffering suffered by a loved one.
Special cruelty can develop in a teenager because of his selfishness: he is disadvantaged by the fact that he is not noticed at home, he is not praised at school, he is not singled out as a leader in the yard. Unable to earn a reputation in any other way, he uses violence against peers and relatives. Interestingly, some unpleasant odors, such as tobacco, also cause bouts of anger. They can also be caused by mental disorders, somatic illnesses, social factors, love experiences, inferiority complexes, and even watching action movies that demonstrate toughness and ruthlessness.
Main species
What is cruelty and why it occurs, we have already found out. Now let's highlight the main forms that it acquires in the process of contact of an evil person with the outside world:
- Physical. Such cruelty is violence, the use of physical force, bodily injury and mutilation.
- Indirect. It looks like evil jokes, gossip, curses that significantly spoil the life of another person, bring him pain and trouble.
- Irritability. The state of "on the brink", when negative feelings are ready to manifest at the slightest remark of the interlocutor, gesture, look.
- Negativism. Cruelty in spite. It manifests itself in the form of senseless aggressive acts aimed at crushing established canons and traditions.
Cruel attitude towards people is also manifested in the form of threats, curses, swearing, name-calling. In this case, the anger is verbal. It is essentially similar to indirect, only unlike it, it has an open form.
How to help the victim
The cruelty of people is a feeling that arises under certain circumstances. Not always and not with everyone. Circumstances develop in such a way that favorable soil is created for the germination of the root of evil. Usually the victims are insecure people who constantly doubt and worry, have low self-esteem. Such people are convinced that they deservedly succumb to criticism or beatings. They, like a magnet, attract cruel people who want to bring down a whole range of various insults on their heads.
If a person himself cannot get out of this state, close and dear people should help him. The potential victim needs to be explained that she is an individual, a person. And no one has the right to call her names and beat her, to mock her. A person needs to be made clear that the offender himself is shackled by a multitude of complexes that he hides behind feigned aggression. At the same time, all ways to overcome the victim complex should be aimed at increasing self-esteem and convincing her of her own success.
Other protections
Those affected by the brutality need to take urgent action. First, enroll in a martial arts school. Having learned the techniques of self-defense, the victim will be able to put them into practice - on his offender. Some experts argue that it is not worth responding to aggression with anger. But some psychologists are still sure that a change in behavior puts a cruel person into a stupor. He does not expect such pressure and retreats.
Second, you need to ask for help. If aggressive behavior comes from children, then talk to their parents and teachers. When cruelty is shown by an adult, then law enforcement agencies will provide significant support: they will not only protect you from the offender, but also determine his punishment if his actions are of a particularly violent nature. In the case of verbal cruelty, you can simply ignore unpleasant words or respond to them with humor - the opponent will soon get tired of wasting his strength and he will find another object for claims.
What is cruelty? This is a phenomenon that is completely eradicated. The most important weapon in the fight against aggression directed at you is your firmness, confidence, equanimity, competent actions and the ability to stand up for yourself.
