adjective. If you say that someone is condescending, you are showing your disapproval of the fact that they talk or behave in a way which shows that they think they are superior to other people.
Insulting/belittling comments. Talking down to you. Name-calling. Saying something hurtful but disguising it as a "joke" Treating you as if you're unintelligent.
Condescension is rude and patronizing. Treating someone with condescension is the opposite of treating them with respect. Condescension is full of arrogant and snooty attitude, and people who practice condescension treat others like inferior idiots. Sarcasm goes well with condescension if you're trying to be a jerk.
A condescending person can't listen to someone else without constantly looking for ways to interrupt. They will always be looking for a way to prove how right they are and how wrong the other person is. They want to impose their point of view on others, so they don't want to listen from a different perspective.
The Psychology Behind Condescending Behaviour
Often, the root of condescension is insecurity. Those who aren't confident in their abilities will look for opportunities to prove their superiority and take comfort in it.
A narcissist is someone who is arrogant and condescending, enjoys bragging and arguing, and often tries to be the center of attention, says Erika Carlson, a graduate student in psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, and the study's lead author.
The Latin prefix con- means "with," and the Latin word for descend means "down," so the word condescending probably developed to describe someone who looked down on others.
Although it's tempting to give the offender a piece of your mind, remaining calm is the best response. Flying off the handle only makes the other person believe that their behaviour is justified. Also, be careful not to reply to a condescending person with more condescension.
These people feel like they are better than you and everyone. They have this need to project the perceived greatness they thought they have. Toxic and condescending people tend to be insecure – and they do this to bolster their image and show how much better they are.
“Condescending behaviors may include insulting or belittling comments, failure to recognize strengths or accomplishments, a dismissive attitude, or a holier-than-thou demeanor,” explains Oona Metz, LICSW, a psychotherapist in Boston, Massachusetts.
Personal Harassment
It includes offensive jokes, criticism, intimidation, etc. If an employee is being put down constantly by condescending statements by the employer, it can be accounted for as personal harassment. Such a toxic environment can interfere with the work performance of the victim.
Condescension "is associated with a patronizing attitude, and with other negative words such as divisive, heartless, arrogant, high-handed, [and] dictatorial". The use of condescending language "can derail conversations and, over time, disrupt healthy communities".
A condescending person can't understand their feelings or anyone else's. They are sometimes unaware of why they act the way they do or others' perceptions of their behavior. They can't read the room because they are preoccupied with their thoughts.
Other examples of condescending behavior include employees who oversimplify or overexplain things in a patronizing tone, call coworkers demeaning names like chief or sweetheart, correct little mistakes, interrupt and tell a coworker to calm down or make them feel like they're overreacting when they're not.
Arrogant, i.e, having an exaggerated sense of one's own abilities, tends to stem from pride. To be arrogant is to be hubristic; meaning excessively proud. To be condescending, on the other hand, means to actively show yourself as having an attitude of patronising superiority.
These two adjectives are very similar in meaning and can be used Interchangeably in most examples. Patronizing refers to treating someone with apparent kindness which betrays a feeling of superiority. Condescending refers to displaying a superior attitude.
Narcissists are highly sensitive to criticism or any perceived threat to their self-image, and they will go to great lengths to protect it. If you criticize them or challenge their dominance, you will trigger a defensive response.
Type As can also be dangerous to narcissists
Although they can be targeted, type A people can also become a narcissist's worst nightmare. One of the most important defenses against dark personalities is having strong boundaries yourself, and type A people are usually aware they have the right to build them.
Patronizing. Patronizing is when you outwardly appear kind and helpful but inwardly feel superior or condescending. If you notice a pattern in yourself or someone else of constantly feeling “better than” or “holier than thou,” you might be acting in passive-aggressive ways.
A condescending person is someone who behaves in a way that conveys that they think they are superior to others. Their tone and words are often patronizing. The message is clear: They're right, you're wrong, and they know it.