Self-abasement is humiliating oneself when one feels lower or less deserving of respect. Self-abasement might have a religious aspect for those seeking humility before God, perhaps in the context of monastic or cenobitic lifestyle. It also has a sexual and fetish aspect for those people who enjoy erotic humiliation and other related BDSM practices. Examples of self-abasement practices include self-flagellation, bondage, torture, public humiliation (including online humiliation). In psychology, self-abasement is associated with shame (rather than guilt) and involves the reduction of the subject's self-esteem. The notion of self-abasement can be said to be based in Freudian psychoanalysis. Fear may also result in self-abasement.
See also Abstinence Ego reduction Egolessness Humility Mortification of the flesh Prostration
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