Psychological Profile of the Pharisee and the Publican

Protopresbyter Dimitrios Athanasiou | January 30, 2026

 

 

Psychological Profile of the Pharisee

The psychological profile of the Pharisee, simply put, is marked by pride and vainglory — and yes, also by a lack of self-awareness.

He lives with a sense of superiority, relying on outward impressions and social recognition.

He boasts of his deeds and turns his gaze away from his own sins. His pride creates a distance from God and from others, limiting all authentic spirituality.

Vainglory is revealed when moral and religious appearance become tools of self-affirmation; spiritual acts are used to appear perfect.

The result? His inner life remains empty, and his deeds do not bring about true spiritual transformation.

The lack of self-awareness prevents him from seeing his weaknesses. Instead of sincere self-reflection, he reacts defensively and tries to appear moral and righteous to others — while in reality, his spiritual “blindness” distances him from true repentance and divine grace. His egocentrism is evident in his constant evaluation of others solely based on how they affect his image. He rejects or judges in order to affirm his superiority, thereby diminishing his capacity for empathy and for a sincere relationship with God and with people. Finally, his defensive psychology drives him to project an image of righteousness and moral perfection instead of admitting his faults. Prayer and fasting become a display rather than genuine repentance, and thus a cycle of arrogance and inner isolation is repeated — hindering access to inner peace and to the true forgiveness of God.

Psychological Profile of the Publican

In contrast, the Publican presents a completely different psychological profile, based on humility, remorse, introspection, and sincerity. He recognizes his weaknesses and faults — he does not hide them. He feels genuine sorrow for his transgressions and desires to become better. He is inward-looking and reflective, examining himself and assessing his behavior critically, without pretending or displaying false virtue.

Emotionally, he is sensitive; he feels sorrow and guilt for his mistakes, but at the same time, he understands the weaknesses of others and does not judge them harshly — he shows deep compassion. He knows his limits and accepts his human nature, while intellectually he reflects on the consequences of his actions and learns from his mistakes, constantly striving for improvement.

In social relations, he remains humble, does not seek to appear superior, and is cautious in his judgments, knowing that everyone makes mistakes. Overall, the Publican is repentant and self-critical, with deep emotional maturity; although initially regarded as a sinner, his attitude reveals inner strength, humility, and a conscious intention to change — an example of introspection, repentance, and moral improvement.

 

Greek source: https://fdathanasiou-parakatathiki.blogspot.com/2026/01/blog-post_30.html