Secondhand Scolding

The uncomfortable sensation experienced when witnessing someone else being reprimanded or when hearing about a scolding secondhand, leading to feelings of anxiety or guilt as though the scolding were directed at you. This occurs due to the proximity of the reprimanding tone and the overall vibe, even though you are not the target.

Witnessing:"I was sitting in the office break room when the boss started yelling at Jake for missing a deadline. Even though it wasn't directed at me, I felt this intense secondhand scolding and my stomach knotted up."Reenacting:"My friend told me how her mom lectured her about not cleaning her room. She mimicked her mom's stern voice and harsh words, and I couldn't help but feel this wave of secondhand scolding wash over me."Proximity:"In class, the teacher was going off on a student for not doing their homework. Even though I always do mine, I could feel the secondhand scolding vibe and it made me anxious the rest of the day."