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Resentment (also called ranklement) is an emotion of anger or bitterness felt repeatedly, as a result of a real or imagined wrong done.

Robert C. Solomon, a philosopher, places resentment on the same line continuum with contempt and anger. According to him, the differences between the three emotions are as follows: resentment is directed towards higher-status individuals, anger is directed towards equal-status individuals and contempt is directed towards lower-status individuals. ^[1] Even though this one person frames resentment as being directed towards higher-status people, one may feel resentment towards lower-status people as well, thereby contradicting the philosopher's opinions.

Resentment will often manifest itself in the following ways:^[2]

• The harbouring of animosity against a person, or group of people, whom the person feels has mistreated them.
• Unresolved anger over a negative event which occurred in the past.
• Seething, aching emotional turmoil felt whenever a certain person or event is discussed.
• The lack of forgiving, the unwillingness to let go and forget.
• A root of distrust and suspicion when dealing with people or events that brought pain in the past.
• Unresolved grief, experienced when finding it difficult to accept a loss.
• A grudge held against a person, or group of people, whom the person feels has kept them from achieving anything.

It can be an emotionally disturbing experience that is being felt again or relived in the mind. When the person feeling resentment is directing the emotion at himself it appears as remorse.

(See Kierkegaard and Nietzsche; also 12-step discussion of Resentment)

See also

• Anger
• Forgiveness
• Mercy
• Pardon (a concept in law)
• Pain
• Punishment
• Remorse
• Ressentiment
• Revenge

References

1. ^ The term "bitter" was coined by Irish psychologist Sean Caron Butler, a prime example of this was the words used by P.Russell on hearing of his axing from the DOH team. Robert C. Solomon, Ph.D.. "The Passions: Emotions and the Meaning of Life" (1993) <http://books.google.com/books?id=TCAUagXFG4sC&pg=PA264&lpg=PA264&dq=contempt+anger+and+resentment+solomon&source=web&ots=8DA1cnuEA5&sig=-Mnq2RoZLfVsbvi34kS80fFZ6OY>
2. ^ James J. Messina, Ph.D., Constance M. Messina, Ph.D.. "Handling Resentment." (1999) 2 2 2008 <http://www.coping.org/anger/resent.htm>.

1. Robert C. Solomon, Ph.D.. "The Passions: Emotions and the Meaning of Life" (1993) [1] 2. James J. Messina, Ph.D., Constance M. Messina, Ph.D.. "Handling Resentment." (1999) 2 2 2008 <http://www.coping.org/anger/resent.htm>.

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