Minimising

A person uses minimising to make their challenge/problem seem less important than it really is. The person who minimises often tends not to learn from experiences or behaviours. By lessening the impact of particular situations, the person can maintain denial, thereby not having to fully accept the severity of their actions.

For example, parents who are asked about their methods of discipline may say that they only spank their children "very lightly on the behind." Or, parents who are confronted by their adult children about abusive incidents in their childhood may answer with minimisation, such as saying "Oh, it wasn't that bad. You survived, and you turned out pretty well. We never really hurt you."

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