Intellectual Bullying: A Need For Insecure People

When we think of harassment situations we usually associate them with all kinds of physical and verbal aggressions, even through digital media; especially if this harassment occurs in the school environment. But there are also  other more subtle ways to harass others, for example through humiliation and sarcasm. This type of harassment is known as intellectual bullying.

Intellectual bullying has received much less attention and recognition than other more well-known forms of bullying, but it is nonetheless important. In fact , this form of psychological violence not only has consequences in adult life, but is also very painful for those who have suffered it since childhood.

Intellectual hierarchy and bullying

The intellectual hierarchy is a way of classifying people according to their education and school qualifications that almost all of us learn and put into practice as children. At the top of the hierarchy are those with the highest level of education, training and qualifications, while at the bottom are those who have received little training and their qualifications are very low. The problem arises when people at the top of this hierarchy unjustifiably look down on those at the bottom.

This “intellectual superiority” that some demonstrate and use to discredit others is a type of psychological harassment known as intellectual bullying. An attitude that should not be overlooked due to the great damage and suffering it generates. In fact, intellectual bullying is no different than physical bullying. Both can affect a victim’s self-esteem in devastating ways.

In this sense, it is known that humiliation, in any of its forms, including intellectual, activates areas of the brain related to pain and also triggers a more intense and lasting response than joy and much more negative than anger.

Humiliating the other is one of the cruelest behaviors that exist. Let’s see below what type of people are capable of carrying out these behaviors.

The intellectual stalker

The intellectual stalker is usually a more intelligent person than the average and that by the mere fact of being it, it is considered superior to the others. This way of thinking leads him to treat people through humiliation, contempt and sarcasm to somehow confirm his superiority. A behavior that really reveals his great insecurity.

Another characteristic trait of the intellectual stalker is his condescension. The insecurity that governs him is masked behind big words and agonizing phrases to confirm his intelligence and superiority in another way. Hence, he uses very technical, elaborate and bombastic words to make others feel foolish and inferior.

It sounds terrible, but aren’t people with these characteristics revered in the media?  Don’t programs in which this type of attitude is what you expect to see set audience records?

In a way, offenders who use physical violence are more likely to learn their lesson, as society rewards other qualities in people over time. However, intellectual aggressors are better positioned to gain status in society as a result of their intelligence, as sometimes that “intellectual superiority” is rewarded. This situation makes them continue to demonstrate their intelligence in superior ways without questioning their harassing and humiliating attitude.

Consequences of intellectual bullying

Intellectual bullying has a devastating long-term effect. Studying in a competitive environment where “intellectual superiority” is valued causes deep and eternal emotional and psychological trauma.

People who are victims of this type of bullying often suffer serious damage to their self-esteem. They also tend to lose confidence in themselves, so they stop having initiative and become demoralized. Not forgetting that this type of bullying is the cause of a high percentage of teenage suicides.

Now,  intellectual bullying also leaves consequences for the bully. In the long run, the intellectual stalker ends up being the victim of his own game. On the one hand, in their environment, people end up discovering their degree of cruelty and toxicity and choose to move away. On the other hand, that insecurity that leads you to humiliate others will prevent you from fully developing and reaching all the potential you have.

Educating is also teaching compassion and humility

Bullying, in general, is due to a lack of compassion. When bullies hurt their victim, they do it knowingly. But if they really cared about the person’s feelings, they wouldn’t have harassed them. So, one of the possible solutions to fix the phenomena of the intellectual hierarchy is the need for compassion, in addition to empathy.

Instead of trying to fit into an intellectual hierarchy, we should use our knowledge to internalize it and then help others. As Aristotle said, “educating the mind without educating the heart is not education at all.”

From this point of view, both the “smart” and the “inferior” benefit from each other. The latter gains a better understanding of the world, while the former learns to be more compassionate and humble.