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Contempt

Contempt is an intense feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless—it is similar to scorn. Contempt is also defined as the state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace, and an open disrespect or willful disobedience of the authority of a court of law or legislative body.[1]

One example of contempt could be seen in the character Ebenezer Scrooge from the Charles Dickens book A Christmas Carol. Scrooge was cold hearted, hating everything about Christmas and looked down upon everyone around him, especially the poor.

Professor Robert C. Solomon places contempt on the same line continuum as resentment and anger. According to him the differences between the three emotions are that[2]:

Resentment is directed toward a higher status individual

Anger is directed toward an equal status individual

Contempt is directed toward a lower status individual

Contempt is most often associated within the confines of the court, in law. However, there are many different forms of contempt including, but not limited to:

Civil contempt
Constructive contempt
Criminal contempt
Direct contempt
Indirect contempt
Contempt within fiction
Contempt within marriage

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