Self-loathing

Self-loathing in general refers to an extreme dislike of oneself or of oneself's characteristics, often a symptom of Depression; in this sense, it is more or less synonymous with self-hatred, although neither are clinical terms.

Related Topics:
Depression - Self-hatred - Clinical

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More often used in a political as well as a popular psychology context, it describes, often disparagingly, a person openly detesting characteristics of people that the person ostensibly shares him- or herself.

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For example, a gay person who openly endorses anti-homosexual policies in government is often labeled "self-loathing"; famous examples include Roy Cohn, White House reporter Jeff Gannon or the Mayor of Spokane, Washington Jim West. The Log Cabin Republicans are often called "self-loathing" by left-of-center gays for their support of a party characterized as anti-gay; defenders of the LCR however deny the charge, pointing out that the group withheld their endorsement for George W. Bush in 2004 specifically because he called for the Federal Marriage Amendment and that they routinely endorse pro-gay Republican candidates such as Arnold Schwarzenegger or Rudy Giuliani.

Related Topics:
Roy Cohn - Jeff Gannon - Jim West - Log Cabin Republicans - George W. Bush - Federal Marriage Amendment - Arnold Schwarzenegger - Rudy Giuliani

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In a very broad sense, some also use the term for gay people who critize other homosexuals for engaging in stereotypical gay behavior (i.e. Drag queens); implying that it's not the stereotypical behavior itself that the critizing person objects to, but actually his own homosexuality of which he is reminded through the stereotypical behavior of others.

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It has been suggested that self-loathing in many minority groups such as Jews, African-Americans and gays is the result of being raised in a society that often discriminates against and stereotypes such groups. While it can hardly be a surprise that otherwise intelligent members of majority groups display racist characteristics when growing up in such an atmosphere, it has been surmised that minorities growing up in such groups are often just as succeptible to accepting such negative stereotypes and positively integrating themselves into the majority group. A minority member can either "pass" as a member of the majority (for example, a closeted gay) or they can conform to majority beliefs about their minority ("Uncle Toms" or "Oreo Cookies" among African-Americans).

Related Topics:
Jews - African-Americans - Gays - Stereotypes - Racist - Uncle Toms - Oreo Cookies

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