Why do people judge?

Question

Why do people judge?

Answer 1

We all judge even when we are not aware of it. I know I'm so guilty of this.  It is wrong and we each have to pay the concescences of our own actions.  It;s almost something that has been engrained in us since we were young.  As I have gotten older I judge less and rarely say anything.  Many people love to judge it makes them feel superior especially if you make a poor choice.  Listen no one knows what they will do until they are in the same exact situation others are faced with. We like to think we would always take the higher road.  When I don't know what I will actually do until I'm there.

Answer 2

Judging is natural, but, how we tend to judge is taught - it is the origin of our egos, and the hidden underworld of the mind that is our psyche.

When one judges someone else to be bad, then one places oneself on a pedestal by comparison.

When one judges someone else to be good, then one sees deficit in oneself.

When one judges something external to be good, then a negative sense of lacking is born internally.

When one judges something external to be bad, then a positive sense of wishing to eliminate it is born internally.

Hence these value judgments give rise to desires - desire to change oneself, desire to change others, desire to change the world and desire to obtain things.   Desire is a dissatisfaction with the present, with life, with oneself, desire causes suffering. You can see how advertising plays a significant role here.

If those value judgments are dropped then what is good internally or externally is deemed to be not so perfect and what is bad internally and externally is seen to be not so bad.  Hence each, both the internal and external move more towards a middle neutral zone.  Towards detachment, egolessness, unity.



So, if judging is natural then what is it supposed to be for?  How about remembering what causes one pain and what causes one pleasure so that one can avoid pain and seek pleasure in the future.

Learned social prejudices might be stripped away to allow new knowledge of what actually brings one happiness and how to avoid pain to be built in its stead.

Answer 3

people judge because they are insecure about themselves. They feel better about themselves when they can find faults in others.

Answer 4

I think it's just a level of intelligence that most people don't have.  They are set in their ways and they qualify people based on how well they match their lifestyle.  They're either in or out.  People try to predict quickly what to expect from a person.  There isn't much patience.

Answer 5

I think it's human nature to judge, especially those who we are in "competition" with.  Ex. Girls tend to judge girls more, Guys tend to judge other guys more.  

Answer 6

Judgement is inherent for all species...humans just take it to a more personal level, both when they are judging as well as when they perceive they are being judged. It does, however, have fantastic uses in our daily life and it's routines.

I know a lot of people are responding in the typical fashion of people judging other people, but it is such a deeply genetic AND environmental facet in our psyche that isn't necessarily CREATED by our environment, only nutured by it.

For instance, a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far...no, wait...just a long time ago, sorry...when we had to use our "judgment" as to whether or not a new "tribe" or "gang" of people were coming over the hill and as to their intent on our bodily safety or of those around us that may feel threatened, judgement played a very important role into the fight or flight scenario...this, as well as the judgement of picking which fruits to eat, which seashells to trade or those one desired made for better and continually growing cultures.

I highly doubt anyone took it as a personal attack on their character when one would grunt and point in disgust at what was thought of as an ugly necklace, or ugly shoes made of cougar fur instead of polar bear back in the day...there were many more things to disagree on that ACTUALLY WERE life changing, like, where can I get my next meal...not what fur am I wearing this season...however, fast forwarding to todays culture of constant self doubt, the fervent desire to always self-improve, and then judging others in the reflection of our own self proves also useful...sayyyy, in choosing which friends to select, or not to select, which religion to pray for, or to kill for...get my point?

So, the question might be better reframed as "why are people so CRITICAL in their judgments?" But this could also be qualified and refocused, such as, judging people's weight, hair, what car they drive, why do people hate skin color, if someone eats meat on Fridays, or Saturdays...even what TYPE of meat they eat, do we judge those people? Do the "popular" kids on the playground get overly sensitive when their older sibling "judges" them, so they take it out on the school "nerd"?

My guess is, those of the types of human judgments you were hinting toward. My hope is, I was able to pass on a little more purpose into some of it's more anthropological and social uses...

peace,

Baldy

Answer 7

Why do people talk ?

- to use their mouth

Why do people judge?

- to use their brain

Because it is there.

Answer 8

I call it leveling. If someone has low self esteem and feels someone is smarter, prettier, more handsome, more talented whatever. They think someone in some way is above them, they insult them to bring them down to the level they think they themselves are at. It's sad really because no one is better than another. Everyone is unique.

Answer 9

People judge because they have a mind. :):):) A mind to do so. Why do you ask?