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Dignity
the quality of worth and honor intrinsic to every person
| Dignity, the quality of worth and honor intrinsic to every
person, establishes basic entitlements that are the unalienable birthright of every human.
Dignity is the threshold level of status required to meet
basic human needs. It establishes the basic boundaries of humanity. Indignity—trespassing into
the territory established by dignity—is the essence of insult,
humiliation, and the root of
anger, shame, and
hate. This
trespass is the basic tool of tyranny, oppression,
and coercion. All of history is the quest for dignity. We are worthy simply
because we are alive; it is a cruel injustice to deny someone their inalienable worth. Each dimension of basic dignity needs to be adequately addressed.
Compensating for a deficiency in one area by providing abundance in other areas
does not work. For example, excess food cannot compensate for a lack of air or
autonomy. Denying this leads to many imbalances and disorders, such as excessive
eating in a futile attempt to make up for loneliness. The following chart is an early attempt to create a
standard for dignity so it can be described, assessed, and measured. Here basic
human dignity is defined by the "Dignity-Human Treatment" column. If a person has
everything in that column, they can thrive. If they have less than that, they
have fallen into the "Indignity-Inhuman Treatment" column and they lack basic human
needs. Levels of comfort and privilege are are defined by abundance and even
excess beyond the basic needs. While the "haves" in this world struggle to
increase their status, the "have nots" struggle to
attain dignity. |
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Depriving a person of their dignity is a very serous
assault and it can unleash powerful passions of anger,
vengeance, and vindictiveness in the
victim. Humiliation and shame
fuel violence. Insults are very dangerous.
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Indignity - Inhuman Treatment |
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Dignity - Human Treatment |
| Denied the attributes of dignity. |
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Adequate: |
Victims of:
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Depravation,
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Inattention, being ignored,
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Insult, or Humiliation,
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Ridicule,
harassment, bullying
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Assault,
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Deceived, manipulated, or cheated,
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Tyranny,
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Oppression,
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Slavery,
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Torture,
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Coercion,
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Denied or abridged
human
rights.
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- Clean air
- Clean water
- Nutritious food
- Shelter
- Rest
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Autonomy
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Privacy
- Personal Space
- Personal Information
- Freedom of thought and opinion,
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Freedom of speech and expression.
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Mobility
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Responsibility
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Security and safety
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Relatedness
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Touch
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Recognition by others
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Caring for others
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Cared for by others
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Competence
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Meaningful work
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Appropriate Challenges
Access to:
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Healthcare
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Education and information
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Equal protection of the law
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Quotations:
- "Hunger with dignity is preferable to bread eaten in slavery" ~ Frantz Fanon
- "The terrible thing about class in our society is that it sets up a contest
for dignity" [Sen]
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"Brute force, no matter how strongly applied, can never subdue the basic
desire for freedom and dignity." ~ Gandhi
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"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." ~ The United Nations
Universal
Declaration of Human Rights
 .
References:
Why We Do What We Do: Understanding Self-Motivation , by
Edward L. Deci, Richard Flaste
Somebodies and Nobodies: Overcoming the Abuse of Rank ,
by Robert W. Fuller
The United Nations
Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
Breaking ranks: Dignity
describing a universal right.
[Sen]
The Hidden Injuries of Class , by Richard Sennett, Jonathan Cobb
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Fear, Sadness, Anger, Joy, Surprise, Disgust, Contempt,
Anger, Envy, Jealousy, Fright, Anxiety, Guilt, Shame, Relief, Hope, Sadness, Depression, Happiness,
Pride, Love, Gratitude, Compassion, Aesthetic Experience,
Joy, Distress, Happy-for, Sorry-for, Resentment, Gloating, Pride, Shame, Admiration, Reproach,
Love, Hate, Hope, Fear, Satisfaction, Relief, Fears-confirmed, Disappointment, Gratification,
Gratitude, Anger, Remorse,
power, dominance, status, relationships |
