They are trying to make themselves feel more powerful or important by putting someone else down. They have low self-esteem and need to build themselves up by making others feel inferior. They may be insecure in the relationship and need to control the other person to maintain their status or power within it.
Insecure people often use criticism of others as a way to feel better about themselves. See, people who are insecure consistently feel bad about themselves. And often, they don't know how to feel better in a healthy or productive way. So they often resort to criticizing others.
The only way insecure people can make themselves happy is by making others unhappy. Their insecurity serves as a defense mechanism that protects their ego. By bringing other people down, they can achieve psychological relief and raise their self-esteem.
Narcissists belittle others because they have their own insecurities, fears and flaws, and are afraid of having them exposed to others. In making hurtful comments to others, they reinforce their own feelings of importance and hide the low self-esteem and self-worth that may be lurking within.
They put other people down to make themselves look more important. They constantly talk about how busy they are (when they're actually not) to show that they are in demand. They are paranoid meddlers who make you question your every move.
A person who feels insecure may suffer from an inferiority complex, which makes them believe they will never be good enough to be loved or wanted. Others may exhibit controlling or manipulative behavior.
They may believe that making someone else feel small will help them appear more capable or successful in comparison. It could also be a way for them to try and mask any feelings of jealousy or insecurity about the other person's life, accomplishments, or relationships.
Some people use put downs to make themselves feel important. They believe that attacking someone else gives their own standing a lift in a group or in a hierarchy. Among relatives, someone who perceives he is more successful in business or life or is wealthier will put down other people in everything they do.
Belittling is a covert form of manipulation and abuse that happens gradually. While it is natural to internalize what people close to you say day in and day out, it's important to know that these things can impact you negatively or positively.
Toxic people are often insecure people. They tend to make themselves feel or seem better than others by talking badly about them rather than taking concrete actions to develop their skills. Toxic people feel entitled to judge others, their actions, decisions, and lifestyles.
Maybe it shows up as an ability to handle the silences between words, or maybe you just can't stop talking about yourself: Many insecure people are incessant talkers—except for when they're not. “Talking too much, or not talking at all, is a telltale sign of insecurity,” says Wood.
A very noticeable trait of insecure people is that they become jealous very easily. No matter how much their partner says that they love them, insecure people will always find a reason to be jealous.
Understanding These Feelings
Jealousy is often rooted in insecurities and fears that a person may not even realize they have. These could include fear of oversimplification, fear of inadequacy, fear of abandonment, fear of being replaced, and fear of being judged.
Why do those people who suffer from being insecure, additionally, are usually angry? People who are insecure experience a lot of fear of being abandoned or disliked because they are unsure of themselves. There has been a trigger for anger. This behavior is usually a way to protect themselves.
They are insecure. They are jealous. They are trying to feel better about themselves by putting you down. They want to impress you or get your attention.
Belittling is the intentional act of making another feel worthless, empty, and dismissed. It is one of many forms of psychological and emotional abuse.
Ignoring how you feel, disregarding your opinion or failing to recognize your contributions. Humiliating or embarrassing you, especially in front of family or friends. Making you the butt of jokes or offhand comments that disparage you and then saying something like, “I didn't mean it.
A narcissist will manipulate and control others to feel good, which is why they can be abusive in relationships. They can use aggression and be rude, offensive, and belittling towards their partners to wear down their self-worth. This can turn into a sadistic, abusive relationship.
Insecure people may also belittle others to protect themselves from being vulnerable or rejected by others. This is especially common when the person belittling others has low self-esteem and frequently faces rejection or disapproval from those around them.
Emotional and psychological abuse can take many forms, including belittling, which can manifest as judging, humiliating, criticizing, trivializing or telling hurtful jokes. But belittling is no joking matter. It's a tactic often used by abusers to make their victims feel small, unimportant or disrespected.