Sarcasm is bitter, caustic irony that sees the bad in others good. It is a form of anger created by a negative perspective of life that highlights incompetence.
Criticism is a detailed negative analysis of a situation or of an action. The critic seeks to eradicate imperfection by highlighting it. It is frustration created by the inability of others.
Cynicism seeks to destroy the stronghold of social conventions. A cynic is intolerant of the authority of society in general and suffers the intolerance of its own inability to act from its own authority.
Sarcasm, criticism and cynicism are the three weapons of the Interrogator that are designed to cause embarrassment, shame and humiliation and send the Aloof scuttling off to their cave.
We are critical of a person’s inability; we are cynical of a person’s incapacity; and we are sarcastic about a person’s incompetence.
Criticism undermines our ability and destroys our self esteem; cynicism undermines our authority and destroys our self-confidence; and sarcasm undermines our power and destroys our self-worth.
Low self-esteem through criticism is shame; low self-confidence through cynicism is embarrassment; and low self-worth through sarcasm is humiliation.
Shame experienced through criticism creates frustration; embarrassment experienced through cynicism creates intolerance; and humiliation experienced through sarcasm creates anger.
Sarcasm is fed by the resentment of non-approval; cynicism is fed by the remorse of non-acceptance; and criticism is fed by the regret of non-acknowledgement.
The need for approval is without power and attracts sarcasm; the need for acceptance is without authority and attracts cynicism; and the need for acknowledgement is without ability and attracts criticism.