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Minimisation is a defense mechanism, a type of denial coupled with rationalisation. A manipulator uses minimisation to assert that his behavior is not as harmful or irresponsible as someone else was suggesting.^[1][2] It is closely related to trivialization or discounting.

Examples

• saying that a taunt or insult was only a joke
• including the words "just" or "only" in a reply such as "I only brushed his shoulder by mistake" when accused of injuring somebody
• a customer receiving a response to a complaint to a company for poor service being told that complaints like his from other customers were very rare when in fact they are common.

Minimisation is also used in a non pathological way by individuals to avoid worry and stress. The individual downplays a bad event and convinces himself that the mishap is only minor.^[3]

A variation on minimisation is "claiming altruistic motives" such as saying "I don't do this because I am selfish, and for gain, but because I am a socially aware person interested in the common good" ^[4].

References

See also

• Psychological manipulation

Further reading

• Rogers, Richard & Dickey, Rob (March 1991) Denial and minimization among sex offenders Journal Sexual Abuse Vol 4, No 1: 49-63