This article, by Dr Donna Hicks from the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University, sets out the Ten Essential Elements of Digity, and conversely the Ten Elements to Violate Dignity.
“Dignity not only sustains but also energises and enables. It accomplishes great things. It lifts the fallen and restores the broken. When the recognition of the good in the other is shared, it is the sense of personal dignity given that can bring peace to situations of potential conflict. People’s awareness of their own dignity, their sense of worth, is the only answer to the inertia of an everyday life ruled by feelings of uselessness.”
(Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu)
“Dignity is found in quality and virtuous relationships established upon contribution. The elements of such relationships are Trust, Forgiveness, Integrity, Hope and Compassion (Empathy actioned through Care).”
(John Hendry OAM)
The Ten Essential Elements of Dignity
Acceptance of Identity
Approach people as being neither inferior nor superior to you. Give others the freedom to express their authentic selves without fear of being negatively judged. Interact without prejudice or bias, accepting the ways in which race, religion, ethnicity, gender, class, sexual orientation, age and disability may be at the core of other people’s identities. Assume that others have integrity.
Inclusion
Make others feel that they belong, whatever the relationship – whether they are your family, community, organization or nation.
Safety
Put people at ease at two levels: physically, so they feel safe from bodily harm, and psychologically, so they feel safe from being humiliated. Help them to feel free to speak without fear of retribution.
Acknowledgement
Give people your full attention by listening, hearing, validating and responding to their concerns, feelings, and experiences.
Recognition
Validate others for their talents, hard work, thoughtfulness, and help. Be generous with praise, and show appreciation and gratitude to others for their contributions and ideas.
Fairness
Treat people justly, with equality, and in an even-handed way according to agreed-on laws and rules. People feel that you have honoured their dignity when you treat them without discrimination or injustice.
Benefit of the doubt
Treat people as trustworthy. Start with the premise that others have good motives and are acting with integrity.
Understanding
Believe that what others think matters. Give them the chance to explain and express their points of view. Actively listen in order to understand them.
Independence
Encourage people to act on their own behalf so that they feel in control of their lives and experience a sense of hope and possibility.
Accountability
Take responsibility for your actions. If you have violated the dignity of another person, apologise. Make a commitment to change your hurtful behaviours.
The Ten Elements to Violate Dignity
Taking the bait
Don’t take the bait. Don’t let the bad behavior of others determine your own. Restraint is the better part of dignity. Don’t justify getting even. Do not do unto others as they do unto you if it will cause harm.
Saving face
Don’t succumb to the temptation to save face. Don’t lie, cover up, or deceive yourself. Tell the truth about what you have done.
Shirking Responsibility
Don’t shirk responsibility when you have violated the dignity of others. Admit it when you make a mistake, and apologise if you hurt someone.
Seeking false dignity
Beware of the desire for external recognition in the form of approval and praise. If we depend on others alone for validation of our worth, we are seeking false dignity. Authentic dignity resides within us. Don’t be lured by false dignity.
Seeking false security
Don’t let your need for connection compromise your dignity. If we remain in a relationship in which our dignity is routinely violated, our desire for connection has outweighed our need to maintain our own dignity. Resist the temptation to settle for false security.
Avoiding conflict
Stand up for yourself. Don’t avoid confrontation when your dignity is violated. Take action. A violation is a signal that something in a relationship needs to change.
Being the victim
Don’t assume that you are the innocent victim in a troubled relationship. Open yourself to the idea that you might be contributing to the problem. We need to look at ourselves as others see us.
Resisting feedback
Don’t resist feedback from others. We often don’t know what we don’t know. We all have blind spots; we all unconsciously behave in undignified ways. We need to overcome our self-protective instincts and accept constructive criticism. Feedback gives us an opportunity to grow.
Blaming and shaming others to deflect your own guilt
Don’t blame and shame others to deflect your own guilt. Control the urge to defend yourself by making others look bad.
Engaging in false intimacy and demeaning gossip
Beware of the tendency to connect by gossiping about others in a demeaning way. Being critical and judgmental about others when they are not present is harmful and undignified. If you want to create intimacy with another, speak the truth about yourself, about what is happening in your inner world, and invite the other person to do the same.
Copyright © 2011 Donna Hicks
