Mockery and rejection hurt: Donkey feels humiliated
Complex unpleasant emotions: HUMILIATION
| Author | Tatjana Gjurković, Tea Knežević |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Jelena Brezovec |
| Original Title | Ruganje i odbacivanje bole: Magarac se osjeća poniženo |
| ISBN | 978-953-8008-82-5 |
| Format | softcover |
| Pages | 24 |
| Size | 22x22 cm |
| Age range | Early learning (2 – 6), Beginning readers (5 – 7) |
| Category | Humiliation |
|---|---|
| Tag | Complex unpleasant emotions |
WRITTEN BY EXPERTS IN CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
After a tasty breakfast, little donkey decided to play with his friends, kitty and bull. When he approached them, he saw that they already had company – a goat that was jumping over a rope. That was donkey’s favourite game, so he really wanted to join them. Instead of inviting him to play with them, the goat started to mock donkey for his ears and looks, rejecting and letting him know that he is not wanted there. Little donkey felt pain and sorrow and became lonely and hurt. Little donkey felt humiliated.
Children from a very young age can be exposed to extremely unpleasant emotions such as humiliation. This emotion is provoked by others when they deliberately mock us, when they reject and isolate us or make fun of us.
Humiliation is one of the so-called complex emotions because it’s most often a combination of emotions of fear, sadness and anger, and is accompanied by strong physiological reactions.
Every parent finds it extremely difficult and disturbing to realize their child is being humiliated by peers, and they have a right to seek immediate reaction from the environment and help for their child. Any form of humiliation should be stopped and there should be zero tolerance for such behaviour. Humiliation can occur in groups among peers, but also in any situation and at any time, by other children, but also by adults, and even within their own family. Humiliation has an extremely negative impact on a child’s long-term sense of self-esteem, their psychological resilience and self-image.
A child who is exposed to mockery, rejection, and humiliation will feel the devastating consequences and helplessness even more strongly if those who could and should react (adults) do not react and don’t protect them.
At the end of the picture book, there are advice for parents and adults on how to approach a child who is experiencing humiliation and help them stand up for themselves in future situations. Also, the parent should do everything to stop the humiliation (intervene in the community and environment where the humiliation occurs).
Author: Tatjana Gjurković
Tatjana Gjurković has a master’s degree in psychology, she is certified psychotherapist, certified child play therapist (RPT), Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA), Teacher and Supervisor of Transactional Analysis (TSTA). She works individually with children and adults and holds educational programs for specialists in fields of child play therapy and transaction analysis. She is author of a book “Play Therapy with children” and 28 therapeutic picture books. She continuously promotes the importance of mental health in children and adults through Centar Proventus which she co-founded with her colleague Tea Knežević.
Author: Tea Knežević
Tea Knežević has master’s degree in psychology, she is certified psychotherapist, certified child play therapist (RPT) and Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA). She provides play therapy with children, psychotherapy with adults, parent consultations, and conducts numerous training courses for professionals in Centar Proventus which she co-founded with her colleague Tatjana Gjurković. She has written 28 picture books with therapeutic stories for children. In addition, she is the author of several manuals related to psychological resilience, gifted children, and anger management.
Illustrator: Jelena Brezovec
Jelena Brezovec has a master’s degree in social studies. For a long time, drawing was just a hobby, until 2008 when she became a co-founder of the publishing house Evenio and decided to study digital illustration, with the focus on children’s illustration. So far, she has illustrated more than 40 picture books and many other publications. She is the winner of the Grigor Vitez “Bird” Award, a special praise from the children’s jury. She has illustrated the most popular children’s book series in Croatia – Mrljek & Prljek. Her illustrations have been part of many exhibitions throughout Croatia. She lives and works in Varaždin, Croatia.
