How to Deal With Ridicule and Insults: Taking Control Over Unwarranted Ridicule and Insults From Others

Ridicule and insults often go hand in hand. No one is exempt from the ridicule of others or the insults that they can hurl. A person of any age, color or creed can receive ridicule and insults from others. Feeling emotionally humiliated, frustrated and devastated is a normal response.

How to deal with ridicule and insults involves understanding what ridicule entails. In other words, what is the purpose of the ridicule? Understanding its purpose can lead to dealing with it appropriately and effectively. It may reveal a way to put an end to it or prevent insults that accompany it from recurring in the future.      

Dictionary.com suggests ridicule involves “speech or action intended to cause contemptuous laughter at a person or thing; derision.”

As a verb, it can mean "to deride" or "make fun of."

Ridicule can seem innocent enough. It may be fun, but is not always something that is fun for everyone, including you. At times, it becomes downright insulting and can lead to potential violence if it is carried too far.

Dictionary.com suggests that the word insult is “to treat with gross insensitivity, insolence, or contemptuous rudeness.” It can also be “to affront or demean.” In a more archaic context, to insult someone or something would be “to make an attack on” it. 

Consider the following ways to deal with ridicule and insults.

Ask yourself who this is that is ridiculing and insulting you.

Why does this person need to attack you in this way? What does he or she have to gain from it?

Your attacker may be trying to see whether you can handle this kind of bullying or abuse. It may appear to be fun for him or her, as well as others. It may also be a way of gaining attention.

Perhaps the person ridiculing you thinks that you take life or something you are doing, too seriously. Maybe that is true to some extent. He or she may be trying to intimidate you, knowing that others will likely follow suit. Perhaps he or she is doing this for your benefit, although at times you may not be able to see how this could possibly help you.  

This is not always the case, as there are those who ridicule others to assure themselves of their position on the throne of life in a group, family or community. Putting you down supposedly raises or elevates their status in life, or so it seems to them. At the same time, ridicule and insults can become vicious when others want to hurt you or wipe you out.

Intentionally ignore the ridicule or insults.

Choosing to engage in or not participate in this rude behavior depends in part upon your choice of response to it. You can sink to their level, but it is not usually a good way to respond to it. You can also try to face it head on, but there may be times when you experience emotional paralysis and are not be able to do anything. That may be one way of mentally running from it, but remember you have the option of actually running away. This is a typical fight or flight response based upon the human reaction to fear, this time triggered by ridicule or insults.

Rebuke the person who is ridiculing or insulting you.

Sometimes a rebuke can be effective, but an open rebuke or returning the ridicule or insult publicly, can trigger more ridicule and result in additional insults. It can cause the person who is ridiculing or insulting you to be stunned, at least temporarily. He or she may apologize or attempt to explain his or her words, deeds or actions. You may have an opportunity to explain something also. “This is unacceptable behavior.” Do not let it turn into a sparring game, where you are hurling insults back and forth. "I do not tolerate insults."

Rise above the ridicule or insult.

Rising above the ridicule or insult is not always easy, but sometimes, laughing at it helps to relieve your tension. What happens when you begin to rollick in laughter? It influences others around you, who may be otherwise inclined to participate in the ridicule or insults. It may trigger a response from those who are concerned about you and your reaction. Perhaps there is some truth in the ridicule or insults and they are applicable in some way, if you can see the humor in it. You may wind up having everyone laughing.

Forgive and forget the person ridiculing or insulting you.

The moment that you forgive someone for ridicule or insults, you gain control of the situation. Power is in your hands from then on. Taking a proactive stand, protecting others from ridicule and insults may help you to learn how to deal with them, yourself. Remember that there is power in groups who act together to eradicate different forms of abuse and bullying, like ridicule that leads to includes insults.