Why do people put others down?

[Anonymous]

Why do some people like to put down other people? What’s the psychology behind it?

[caring__1]

Let me explain what I call The Drowning Man Syndrome. A person is drowning in the ocean. You swim out to rescue that person. As you approach that person, what will that person do? Most respond by saying the drowning person will try to drown me. Does that make any sense? What would that person have to gain by drowning you? Actually, when we are in a panic situation, we revert back to instinct and earliest memories. One of our earliest memories is this... we push down, we go up. Yes, the drowning person will push down on you, but not to drown you. The drowning person is attempting to survive by pushing himself up. When you go down, the drowning person actually becomes angry at you.

Now back to The Drowning Man Syndrome. When people feel insecure, they often push down on those around them, hoping to push themselves up. They feel they have more value if they are better than someone else. Unfortunately, it is just a momentary band-aid, as pushing down on others will never keep a person up. Because they feel this momentary relief from their low self-esteem, they continue the behavior indefinitely, hoping the good feeling will eventually stick. It will never work, but they become insatiable in their efforts to have a quick fix and finally truly believe in themself.

[Anonymous]

Generally, it's to feel better about their own self. For some, being able to control someone else's mood like that gives a sense of power, which bolsters their own confidence. For others, diminishing someone else's qualities or accomplishments helps them to feel better about their own. Sometimes putting someone down is a deliberate attempt to cause someone harm, and sometimes it's an unintentional side effect of trying to make their self feel better.

Example: I'm self-conscious about the way I look. I see someone who is attractive, but I tell everyone they are ugly. People agree with me and tell me that I'm attractive. I feel better.

[Hawner]

People have the need to know they are needed in the world, like an important part of it. Putting people down gives the illusion of power, of being better than others, which translates to being important.
Some look for that feeling actively and others in response to not feeling comfortable with themselves and trying desperately to reassess themselves, especially in front of others.

[Wise4myage]

It makes them feel better about themselves, but its very pathetic.

[In_Trance]

sometimes people pretend you're a bad person so they don't feel guilty for how they treated you

[Anonymous]

It's easier to put down other people than putting in more effort to better oneself.

[Miyasee_]

I think it’s inherit in their characters

[HateMetaL89]

They are motivated by fear and insecurity.

[BarryLiverstone]

They are in pain, so want to make others suffer.

[Anonymous]

Make themselves feel better