psychology
4 sentences with which you can put a damper on arrogant people
Psychology: None of us have to put up with arrogant mansplainers
Nobody deserves to be treated condescendingly – with these four sentences you can quickly steer the conversation in a more respectful direction.
“No, you just don’t understand, let me explain…”: If you’ve ever felt like someone was talking to you like you were less smart or competent, then you know what condescending communication feels like. This derogatory form of communication is often used to express an (often imagined) difference in rank. How to twist and turn it: Arrogant, condescending conversation partners are annoying and can make us feel like we are being placed on a lower level and that our talents and achievements are worthless.
Psychology: What to do if your conversation partners are arrogant?
A prominent example is “mansplaining”, a neologism made from the words “man” and “explain”. Although the name sounds gender specific, this is a form of condescending communication that can be used by people of any gender. But unsurprisingly, studies show that women perceive this form of communication as particularly negative. Caitlin Briggs, a researcher at Michigan State University, explained that women often feel their competence is doubted because of their gender. In comparison, men seem to be less bothered by condescending communication from women.
One thing is certain: none of us should put up with such behavior or accept in silence that our own intelligence or abilities are undermined. But how do we best respond to this condescending behavior? We often only think of a quick-witted answer later, and a direct confrontation seems a bit excessive to many of us in such a conversation situation. In the video you can see four sentences with which you can react directly to the arrogant behavior of your conversation partner and elegantly take the wind out of their sails.