Colloquium

From Humiliation and Depression to Dignity: What Can We Do?

Research since 1997 at the Department of Psychology

at the University of Oslo

Hybrid lecture, both in person and on Zoom!

Time and Place

Wednesday, 21st June, 13.15 – 15.00

Room S328 (south wing, third floor, room 328),

Department of Psychology at the University of Oslo, Norway,

Harald Schjelderups hus, Forskningsveien 3A, 0373 Oslo

Dear Linda,

You are warmly invited to this special colloquium!

In this colloquium, Evelin Lindner will present her concept of dignity and humiliation and relate it to some of the research projects conducted at the Department of Psychology. With respect to research on depression, for instance (see Ole Andre Solbakken et al.), it is relevant to note that a study from 2003 showed that the strongest predictor of major depression is a combination of loss and humiliation (Kendler et al., 2003).

With respect to pathways from humiliation to dignity, the work of Beate Seibt and Thomas Schubert on the concept of Kama Muta (Sanskrit: 'moved by love') is relevant, an emotion described as 'being emotionally touched' (see kamamutalab.org). In the light of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (uit.no/kommisjonen) and their report submitted on 1st June 2023, the Department of Psychology aims at raising awareness, particularly in its programmes of professional study, for the special needs of minorities.

About the Lecturer: Evelin Lindner earned her Dr. psychol. at the Department of Psychology of the University of Oslo in 2001 with the thesis titled The Psychology of Humiliation: Somalia, Rwanda / Burundi, and Hitler's Germany. From this work, a transdisciplinary field of research and inquiry grew forth, "Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies" (HumanDHS, humiliationstudies.org), as a new field of academic inquiry and as a global network of academics and practitioners.

Evelin Lindner has a dual education as a Medical Doctor and a Psychologist, with a Ph.D. in Medicine from the University in Hamburg in Germany, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Oslo.

She is the founding president of Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies (HumanDHS), a transdisciplinary academic field and a global community of concerned academics and practitioners who wish to promote dignity and transcend humiliation around the world. She is also co-founder of the World Dignity University initiative, including Dignity Press and World Dignity University Press. All initiatives are not-for-profit efforts. Her first book, Making Enemies: Humiliation and International Conflict, was honored as 'Outstanding Academic Title' by the journal Choice in 2007. Desmond Tutu wrote the Foreword for her third book, titled Gender, Humiliation, and Global Security. Her fourth book, A Dignity Economy, came out in 2012, her fifth book, Honor, Humiliation, and Terror, in 2017, and her sixth book, From Humiliation to Dignity: For a Future of Global Solidarity, in 2023. See more on Evelin, publications on Cristin and here.

Please see the University of Oslo announcement here. Please see the Zoom link here.

Evelin Lindner, MD, Ph.D.s, Founding President

Linda Hartling, Ph.D., Director

Uli Spalthoff, Ph.D., Director of Project Development and Systems Administration 

Michael Britton, Ed.D., Ph.D., Board Member 

Richard Slaven, Ph.D., Director of Dignifunding

Jane Hilken, M.A., Publication Advisor

HumanDHS Board of Directors