Contempt
Family: Rejection and shutdown
How it differs from similar states
Hierarchical rejection; I feel superior and emotionally distant.
How this can feel in the body
A one-sided smirk—your body expresses distance and superiority.
It usually comes up when
A moral or status violation by someone else.
What this might be pointing to
Hierarchical rejection of another person; regulates social norms.
What you can do with this
Contempt closes the door to connection. If the relationship matters, look beneath it for disappointment or hurt and speak about those instead. If it doesn't, treat it as a signal about your values and boundaries.
Where the name comes from
Contempt is a social emotion—it is directed at a specific person or group—outward, not at yourself.
Not quite it?
Closest by feel — the same ones the compass would show.
Two minutes, and you will see whether this is really it