Pity for oneself, especially exaggerated or self-indulgent pity.
selfpitying self'-pit'y·ing adj.selfpityingly self'-pit'y·ing·ly adv.
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Dictionary:
self-pit·y (sĕlf'pĭt'ē) |
Pity for oneself, especially exaggerated or self-indulgent pity.
selfpitying self'-pit'y·ing adj.| 5min Related Video: self-pity |
| WordNet: self-pity |
The noun has one meaning:
Meaning #1:
a feeling of sorrow (often self-indulgent) over your own sufferings
| Quotes About: Self-pity |
Quotes:
"Never feel self-pity, the most destructive emotion there is. How awful to be caught up in the terrible squirrel cage of self."
- Millicent Fenwick
"Self-pity is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality."
- John W. Gardner
"Of all the infirmities we have, the most savage is to despise our being."
- Michel Eyquem De Montaigne
"There are few human emotions as warm, comforting, and enveloping as self-pity. And nothing is more corrosive and destructive. There is only one answer; turn away from it and move on."
- Dr Megan Reik
| Wikipedia: Self-pity |
| This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (January 2009) |
Self-pity is the psychological state of mind of an individual in perceived adverse situations who has not accepted the situation and does not have the confidence nor ability to cope with it. It is characterized by a person's belief that he or she is the victim of events and is therefore deserving of condolence. Self-pity is generally regarded as a negative emotion in that it does not generally help deal with adverse situations. However, in a social context, it may result in either the offering of sympathy or advice. Self-pity may be considered normal, and in certain circumstances healthy, so long as it is transitory and leads to either acceptance or a determination to change the situation.
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Self-pity can be remarkably self-sustaining particularly in conjunction with depression or other conditions. For example: a child at school feels badly because they see others as more social or outgoing. If the child does not take action by attempting to get to know others despite potential negative consequences (such as rejection) then they may continue to feel alone, and their feelings of self-pity will be sustained. Self-pity is a way of paying attention to oneself, albeit negatively; it is a means self-soothing or self-nurturing ("I hurt so much").
Social-Learning theorists purport that self-pity is a method for gaining attention, probably as a child, where an individual received attention, support, and nurturing while being sick or hurt. The child then grows up having learned to give attention to oneself (or ask for attention from others) while in real or dramatized distress to receive the same payoff. Thus, another form of self-sustainment can be sympathy offered by others: "oh, you poor thing." This is particularly true of individuals who exhibit sociopathic or psychopathic tendencies[citation needed] and rely on the sympathy offered by others as a means to manipulate.
"Self-Pity" is also the title of a short poem by D. H. Lawrence. [1] The poem was prominently cited by Viggo Mortensen's character in the film G.I. Jane. It is also a song by American hardcore punk band AFI, from their album Answer That and Stay Fashionable.
| This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (February 2008) |
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| Translations: Self-pity |
Dansk (Danish)
n. - selvmedlidenhed
Nederlands (Dutch)
zelfmedelijden, zelfbeklag
Français (French)
n. - apitoiement sur soi-même
Deutsch (German)
n. - Selbstmitleid
Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - μεμψιμοιρία
Italiano (Italian)
autocommiserazione
Português (Portuguese)
n. - comiseração de si mesmo (f)
Русский (Russian)
жалость к самому себе, склонность жаловаться на судьбу
Español (Spanish)
n. - lástima de sí mismo
Svenska (Swedish)
n. - självömkan
中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
自怜
中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 自憐
العربيه (Arabic)
(الاسم) ألاشفاق على ألذات
עברית (Hebrew)
n. - חמלה עצמית
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| Fenwick, Millicent (Quotes By) | |
| Reik, Dr Megan (Quotes By) | |
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![]() | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more | |
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![]() | Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Self-pity". Read more | |
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