Humility and servility are not the same thing. The former should be encouraged and the latter discouraged. In fact, humility, according to science, has a range of health benefits. “Since the year 2000, more research has been done on humility within the general framework of positive psychology,” says Dr. George Kaliaden, a DHA-certified psychologist for 25 years at WeCare Medical Center in Dubai.
A new study has shed new light on this topic – last year two American researchers from the University of Charleston, Lisa Thomson Ross and Jennifer Cole Wright tested nearly 400 students and 500 adults for a link between certain traits of personality and humility.
For adults, humility was associated with psychological well-being, and for students, being humble increased students’ love of life and self-efficacy – the belief in our abilities and abilities to achieve our goals. How to define humility in science?
Humility does not depreciate
Humility in its psychological sense does not mean low self-esteem, but that you are more aware of yourself and your limitations in the larger context of the world, according to Dr. Ramsingh.
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“Often, humility is associated with thinking less about oneself and therefore low self-esteem, which can also be seen in depression,” says Dr Sreenivasan Vazhoor Ramsingh, a psychiatrist at Ahalia Hospital in Abu Dhabi.
However, humility in its psychological sense does not mean that you have low self-esteem. It means you are more aware of yourself and your limitations in the larger context of the world and therefore makes you less likely to develop anxiety or depression due to stress, and you are able to do better in the face of stressful situations.
Humility in its psychological sense does not mean that you have low self-esteem. It means you are more aware of yourself and your limitations in the larger context of the world and therefore makes you less likely to develop anxiety or depression due to stress, and you are able to do better in the face of stressful situations.
– Dr. Sreenivasan Vazhoor Ramsingh, Psychiatrist at Ahalia Hospital, Abu Dhabi
Although he adds that there is confusion about the exact definition of humility, he refers to a seminal 2000 study by American researcher June Price Tangney published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology to define its characteristics. :
- A precise assessment of their abilities and achievements
- The ability to recognize one’s mistakes, imperfections, knowledge gaps and limitations
- An openness to new ideas, conflicting information and advice
- Putting her abilities and accomplishments into perspective – her place in the world
- Relatively low self-focus, “self-forgetting”, while acknowledging that one is only a part of the larger universe
- An appreciation of the many ways people and things can contribute to our world
What is self-efficacy?
Dr. Kaliaden explains, “Self-efficacy is the awareness or belief in one’s ability to motivate oneself and use one’s knowledge and skills to successfully accomplish one’s goals and missions. Naturally, people with high self-efficacy are more confident in all life situations because they are less anxious, less depressed, and more able to take initiatives and social risks.
Dr Sreenivasan Vazhoor Ramsingh, a psychiatrist at Ahalia Hospital Abu Dhabi, gives the example of preparing for a difficult exam, explaining that with strong self-efficacy, you would know how much effort to put in, how much to study and believe in your abilities. He adds, “If I believe I don’t have enough ability to pass an exam…it all shows low self-efficacy because it shows less self-awareness.
From cosmic humility to humility turned towards others
There are many types of humility, for example: others-centered – where you put the interests of others above your own.
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For the purposes of the study, titled “Humility, Personality, and Psychological Functioning” published in the journal Psychological Reports, they defined some facets of humility, including the following.
As a small way, you can test your own humility, you can ask yourself – what idea do you relate to the most?
“I often put the interests of others before my own” – Other-centered humility
“We should always try to be in harmony with Mother Nature” – Environmental humility.
“I often find myself meditating on my smallness in the face of the immensity of the universe” – cosmic humility.
“It’s important to always keep your accomplishments in perspective” – value humility.
However, it is also defined in general humility, relational humility and intellectual humility in psychology, explains Dr. Ramsingh.
The benefits of humility
Among students who took the love of life scale (2007) and the subjective happiness scale (1999), all aspects of humility were correlated with love of life scores – this who asks about how excited they are to be alive.
Image credit: Unsplash/Akson
From this study and others, here are some benefits of humility:
Humble people perceive their abilities and limitations more accurately, and as a result, they may tend to be more responsible in producing quality work and completing tasks in a timely manner. They are also more aware of their interdependence in society. It makes them more empathetic. They are less likely to bother others.
– Dr. George Kaliaden, DHA Registered Psychologist for 25 years at WeCare Medical Center, Dubai
More satisfaction and happiness in life
Among students, who had taken the Love of Life scale (2007) and the Subjective Happiness scale (1999), all aspects of humility were correlated with love of life scores – raising questions about their excitement at the idea of being alive. Certain types such as others-oriented humility and empowering humility also showed increased happiness.
“Humility involves greater precision, it is to perceive one’s strengths and limitations and thus maintain the right kind of attitude towards people and situations”, explains Dr. Kaliaden. A 2016 study by Neal Krause published in the Journal of Adult Development also established this link between humility and life satisfaction.
May have less depression and anxiety
For students, there was a negative correlation between depression and environmental and other-oriented humility. The study authors discuss that it may show the benefits of community service and how ‘caring about the planet is linked to slightly less depression’.
For adults, those who cared more about the environment (environmental humility) and kept their accomplishments in perspective (valuing humility) were found to be less anxious – which correlated with Krause’s previous 2016 study.
Psychological/eudemonic well-being
For adults, almost every aspect of humility was positively correlated with psychological well-being, which was tested using Ryff’s (1989) psychological well-being scales:
- Autonomy – having self-determined thoughts.
- Mastering the environment – choosing your opportunities and contexts.
- Personal growth – improvement over time.
- Positive relationships – trust and connection with others.
- Sense of purpose
- self acceptance
Better social self-efficacy
According to a 2000 study published in the Journal of Career Assessment, it is “an individual’s confidence in their ability to engage in the social interaction tasks necessary to initiate and maintain interpersonal relationships.”
Dr. Kaliaden explains, “Humble people perceive their abilities and limitations more accurately and as a result they may tend to be more responsible in producing quality work and completing tasks in a timely manner. . They are also more aware of their interdependence in society. It makes them more empathetic. They are less likely to bother others.
Increased openness and intelligence
The second aspect of humility is that it makes the individual more open to people and to life’s opportunities. This naturally helps him improve his efficiency. It can make better use of the opportunities offered by its environment,” says Dr. Kaliaden.
Among students and adults, all aspects of humility are positively correlated with openness.
Dr Ramsingh adds: “Humility has been shown to have various benefits, including:
- Have better self-control and be more self-aware.
- Better manage stress and anxiety
- Better work performance
- Better academic performance
- be more helpful
- Cultivate better relationships
- be more forgiving
- Less likely to engage in behaviors for immediate gratification, including addictions.
Humility has been shown to have various benefits, including better performance in school and work.
Image credit: Unsplash/Logan Isbell
Dr. Kaliaden has an additional contribution from his experience: “In my more than fifteen years of work as a university counselor, I have encountered several instances where overly arrogant and proud students are less likely to ask for help. , even when they have big problems. Overconfidence can make them less likely to engage in systematic work and coordinated efforts to complete tasks.
“Furthermore, those who are less humble may have difficulty in social relationships because they tend to be less sensitive to the feelings of others and less helpful and supportive to friends and colleagues.”
Tips for Cultivating Humility
“Humility is definitely a trait adults and children alike need to cultivate so they can lead happier, healthier lives,” says Dr. Ramsingh.
According to Dr. Kaliaden, mindfulness, self-analysis to identify and open up to one’s weaknesses as well as strengths, and keeping in mind cultural practices that encourage us to recognize and respect others are ways to cultivate humility.
He says, “As you engage in a certain behavior and practice it, you also develop an attitude…how to be humble to become more open and receptive to knowledge”
Earth is a tiny stage in a vast cosmic arena.” Pale Blue Dot, Carl Sagan, 1994
Over 30 years ago, NASA’s robotic explorer took a blurry image of Earth 3.7 billion miles in outer space… and what appeared was a tiny blue dot . It shocked the world, sparked various discussions and was almost a collective moment of humility for us.
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