EPISODE · Jan 21, 2026 · 6 MIN

Deflating a Little Monster That’s a Big Problem

from An Ounce - For Your Consideration · host Jim Fugate

 Most people don’t wake up wanting to despise someone — yet contempt keeps showing up anyway.In this episode of An Ounce, a small allegorical story reveals how contempt quietly grows, why it feels bigger than it is, and how it loses power when we stop feeding it.This isn’t a lecture.It’s a pattern worth noticing.If you’ve ever wondered how disagreement turns into dismissal — and how easily it can be reversed — this one’s for you.If it resonates, feel free to share it with someone else who might appreciate it.Another episode you'll also enjoy How to Disagree:  https://youtu.be/qrU64J4jMcIChapters:00:00 – Introduction00:19 – The Unsettling Conclusion00:54 – Introducing the Monster01:48 – Inflated/Deflated02:32 – They Preferred the Monster02:56 – Ridiculous?04:03 – Facing the Annoying Human05:20 – An OunceFurther Reading & ReferencesFor those interested in the psychology behind contempt, disagreement, and how certainty can quietly overpower understanding:• The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work — John GottmanGroundbreaking research identifying contempt as the strongest predictor of relational breakdown.• The Righteous Mind — Jonathan HaidtExplains why people talk past each other — and how moral certainty often outruns understanding.• Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) — Carol Tavris & Elliot AronsonWhy people double down instead of reassessing — and how rehearsal hardens belief.• Meditations — Marcus AureliusA timeless exploration of withholding judgment, resisting contempt, and recognizing shared human frailty.