The concept of “ressentiment” attempts to explain a complex psychosocial phenomenon fostered by experiences of wrongdoing and frustration, which manifests as an antistance toward others. Through a process of transformation, initial feelings of injustice and powerlessness evolve into a negative affective stance that seeks to demean others in order to elevate one’s own position. This phenomenon is linked to societal conditions involving unfulfilled promises of equality, such as typical for economic crises. As the position of ressentiment is constantly in need of social confirmation, it can easily be exploited by reactionary and populist movements. Ressentiment provides a conceptual framework through which these phenomena can be tackled from a psychosocial angle, avoiding reductionist explanations.