Attributes of Highly Contemptuous People

The present study examines the relationship between levels of trait contempt expression and several individual- and social-level characteristics. Participants (N = 216) completed questionnaires that measured mental, psychological, relational, and emotional attributes. The results suggest a paradox for highly contemptuously expressive people. On the one hand, trait contempt expression is uniquely predictive of relational and emotional costs such as social isolation, less preoccupation with relationships, and a view of relationships as secondary; on the other hand, trait contempt expression leads to lower levels of self-reported stress. The findings support a cognitive functional framework for research examining behavioral outcomes to emotion expression.