Misanthropy: What does it mean for Psychology and Psychiatry?

Table of Contents

Last Updated on February 7, 2023 by Mike Robinson

What is Misanthropy?

An adverse reaction to the human species is a psychological and social attitude known as misanthropy.

They don’t hate specific people, but they hate the things that make people human, like individualism, being unwilling to change, and being intolerant, among many other things.
Misanthropy can be mild or very strong and can appear in many different ways, from harmless social criticism to dangerous acts of destruction or self-destruction.

Examples of Misanthropy Cases

In extreme cases, misanthropy can lead to murder. An example of this is the case of Carl Panzram, who murdered more than 20 people in the United States. When he was arrested and locked up in a Washington, DC, jail in 1922, he stated: “I hate the whole human race. I enjoy killing people. “That is a chilling phrase.

Here is another example, more recent, that you will surely remember. In 1999, a group of assassins entered the Columbine Institute, killed 13 people, and then committed suicide. In their diaries, they referred to the hatred they felt towards humans.

But it is not necessary to have thoughts or feelings so extreme to have traits of misanthropy. To understand better what misanthropy is, think about this situation:

You’ve had a bad day; your boss yelled at you at work; you’ve had to deal with complaints from many clients who have been rude in expressing their dissatisfaction. To make matters worse, you argue with other drivers in a traffic jam or get treated rudely on the bus. When you finally get home, you get a call from a friend who invites you to dinner.

What do you say? The last thing you feel like doing is going out and seeing more people. You want to be alone, at home, in peace, with no other humans nearby.

Of course, this feeling results from the specific events that occurred earlier that day. We’ve all had days like this. But people with misanthropy have this feeling of dislike or contempt for people all the time. Because of this, people with intense feelings of misanthropy can have difficulty living in a society or even accepting themselves.

While misanthropy is not considered a mental disorder or illness (at least not in mild cases), it can cause emotional stress or be a symptom of an underlying psychiatric illness.

Are You a Misanthrope?

As we talked about in the last section, we all have pessimistic thoughts about other people at some point.

Misanthropy is more than this, though. It is a deep dislike of people in general. Look at the following to get an idea of how a misanthrope thinks:

You’re watching the news on TV, and the police section is full of terrible stories about wars, murders, and drug use. But you think they are just a few isolated facts that the media likes to cover.

But a misanthrope does not think that way. They believe these facts prove that all people are disgusting, self-centered, and dangerous. Because of these thoughts and feelings, the misanthrope may avoid all contact with other people. This can lead to social isolation.

Then, a vicious circle starts: the misanthrope is sure that no one has a good attitude. When they are alone, they can’t have any good experiences with other people, which makes them feel even worse about people. However, it is essential to point out that a misanthrope, as long as his hostility is not too intense, can have a relatively normal relationship with people close to him.

For example, you may have feelings of aversion towards humanity in general but, at the same time, have a good relationship with your partner or certain friends. Misanthropes may also feel this way because they are afraid of other people.

If you are a misanthrope and watch the news about wars, murders, political corruption, and fraud, you might think that the human species is doomed. However, these thoughts of aversion also have to do with fear.

Test Questions for Misanthropy

To determine if you have misanthropy, ask yourself if you exhibit any of the behaviors listed below.

A misanthrope, in general, does not trust people. They try to avoid social situations, meetings, and crowded places. They likely justify their behavior by saying that people have dangerous behaviors. Therefore, coming into contact with them could cause them some harm.
The misanthrope often believes they are superior to the rest of society. Their language is usually sarcastic. Sometimes they have good knowledge of philosophy, a high intellectual level, and like to read.
They don’t like following social rules, don’t care about how they look and don’t want to change.

In addition to having a dislike for people, misanthropy has a somewhat unclear definition that may make it challenging to understand. Additionally, there are numerous theories regarding misanthropy and its potential causes.

However, you can determine how misanthropic you are by responding to the following questions (with yes or no).

You are convinced that:

Most people would lie to get what they want.
Often, when you try to help someone, your intentions get misunderstood, and you end up in a mess.
Most people find it annoying to help others, even if they do not say it.
When people are honest, it is for fear of being discovered.
When things go well at work, bosses typically take all the credit and hold subordinates accountable when mistakes occur.
When someone is kind to me, I immediately question their true motives.
Numerous people engage in despicable sexual behavior.
Most people cheat on their partners.
Everyone exaggerates their problems to get others’ support, help, compassion, or even sympathy.
Frequently, people considered authorities on a subject end up knowing no more than I do.

If you have answered yes to four or more of these questions, you likely have a certain degree of misanthropy.

Correlation Between Misanthropy and Mental Illness

According to recent research from the University of Finland, those who have misanthropic thoughts are also more likely to develop dementia.

As part of this study, a group of people underwent a psychological test usually used to measure the degree of misanthropy or cynicism, asking each person how well they are with phrases such as “most people lie” or “it’s best not to trust anyone.” Eight people were tested for dementia eight years later. As it turns out, those with a higher degree of misanthropy also developed more symptoms of cognitive impairment and dementia.

The researchers then concluded that there is a correlation between misanthropy and certain mental illnesses, although they can’t say that misanthropy is the cause of these disorders.

According to other studies, there is a connection between misanthropy and other conditions. For instance, research conducted in 2009 on a group of women found that cynicism was associated with a higher risk of cancer and heart disease.

In short, misanthropy may negatively affect your health. At the same time, it can be very challenging to change your personality characteristics.

You may be wondering what you can do about it. According to experts, the best course of action is to maintain a healthy lifestyle (not smoking, exercising, and eating in moderation) and make sure you see your friends occasionally.

Misanthropic Phrases

These actual phrases have been spoken or written by misanthropic people; some are well known. You can Google their names if you want to know more about them.

“I do not hate people; “I just feel better when I’m away from them.” Charles Bukowski

“You always think you’re the only one in the world that everyone else loves, but it’s not like that. Most people do not like other people very much. And this goes for friends too. ” Miranda July

“I think there is a characteristic common to all mankind. We all suck “- Bill Hicks.

“I hate humanity; I think I’m one of the best, and I know how bad I am.” Samuel Johnson

“You call me a misanthrope because I avoid social contact. “You’re wrong; I love society. “So to not hate people, I must avoid their company,” says Caspar David Friedrich.

“What is man?” “A miserable and small pile of secrets.” —André Malraux

“Have you ever had the feeling that the world is full of bastards? I do. What I want to know is what will happen when the bastards no longer have anyone to harm. What will happen when all that is left in the world are bastards? The golden rule Hurt others before they harm you. ” William Hoffman

Did you identify with any of these phrases? If so, welcome to the world of misanthropy.

Famous Misanthropes

Throughout history, many famous misanthropes have appeared; many were philosophers or well-known writers, as well as protagonists of literary works or TV series known internationally.

Arthur Schopenhauer

For example, Arthur Schopenhauer was a German philosopher who claimed that “the human species is nothing more than a mistake.” However, he also said that “ethical treatment of others is the best attitude because we all suffer and are part of this same will to live.”

Schopenhauer also dared to show a comprehensive view of suicide when it was a taboo subject.

José Ortega y Gasset

José Ortega y Gasset was a Spanish philosopher and writer who, although he can not be said to be a misanthrope, in his work ” The Rebellion of the Masses,” openly declares that “this custom of speaking to humanity, which is the most sublime and contemptible of democracy, was adopted around 1750 by misguided intellectuals, ignorant of their limits.

Friedrich Nietszche

Friedrich Nietszche, a German philosopher, was also known for his contempt for humans, reflected in his thoughts and works.

Conclusion

As you can see, misanthropy is more common than you might have thought. The good news is that you have the power not to become one of the many misanthropic individuals. Try at least to keep up a relationship with a few friends if you have misanthropic thoughts or feelings. Things aren’t as bad as they seem.