\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. They view the world from their own eyes and they assume that everyone else does the same. WebThe best way to deal with a condescending coworker is to ignore them. Avoid escalating the situation by being patient and understanding; focus on solutions rather than pointing out problems. You keep calm and carry on. So if you separate yourself from the situation for a while, then they wont keep pestering you with their opinions or tactics. Unfortunately, were not taught how to love ourselves from an early age. WebA condescending person might say something like, Well, I would agree with you, but then wed both be wrong. 2 They may be trying to prove how smart they are. Think back to some of the condescending or patronizing words directed at you and remember how you felt when you heard them. They want to impose their point of view on others, so they dont want to listen from a different perspective. You can still tell it like it is, but do so in a calm and logical manner. No matter how good you feel about making a quick-witted remark back, youre always better off avoiding a situation altogether. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. 67 Betrayed And Broken Trust Quotes For Validation And Support, Feeling Left Out While Dating A Man With Kids? Abusive behaviour includes behaviour that is physically threatening, likely to cause harm or damage to people or property or that is verbally abusive, for example, racist or homophobic. Youll feel like any insult or dig is about you, but its not. If you try to negotiate with them, theyll try their best to make you feel inferior or like you can never get what you want. Fortunately, there are some ways you can confront condescending people and put an end to their patronizing behavior. This word shows that you dislike people like this. For instance, maybe you and a coworker disagree about how to start a work project. Condescending people are great at making excuses for their behavior. Condescension is an insulting way of talking to other people, as if they were stupid or ignorant. 14. British offensive an impolite word for an annoying or stupid person. Witty or Smart Comebacks for Condescending Remarks. They may try to one-up you when you talk about something you achieved. Jessica holds a Bachelors degree from The University of California, Santa Barbara and an MA in Counseling Psychology and Talk Therapy from Ryokan College. But if someone is persistently condescending, youll pick up on it and it will certainly grate on you. If the intent of their statement was sharp, this would dull it in a jiffy. Heres the important part: if someone says they are familiar with something, For instance, in this scenario you might say, I know youve driven here a couple of times before. People in positions of power may also use condescending language to assert their dominance over others. You tell them theyre being condescending, but they just dismiss you with even more condescension. And we end up caring about what others think of us rather than focusing on what we need at a more fundamental level. Let go of any need to control the outcome. Theres always that one person who just rubs you wrong with everything they say and do. We are all human and may have an outburst from time to time. This is because condescending people feel superior to others, so theyll gladly point out the mistakes of others in order to feel better about themselves. Condescending people will often switch topics whenever they dont agree or understand what someone else is saying. References. This is part of their lack of self-reflectiveness. If your concerns have gone unheard, maybe you should take a more aggressive approach. If your relationship with this person is important to you, you can gently point out to them how their behavior comes across to you and ask them to be more aware of it. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. 4 Instead of truly feeling superior, he instead, truly feels inferior. So he'll use intimidation, or act conceited to cover up that lack of self-esteem. This enables a condescending person to give themselves the air of superiority that they crave. If someone is always downplaying your ideas and contributions, and believes they know more than you, make them prove it. Acknowledge where theyre right and add something to it. "It's impossible to underestimate you." For example, you could mention how theyre not as smart, or talented as they think they are (correct them on something they have said). I have a graduate degree in Psychology and Ive spent the last 6 years reading and studying all I can about human psychology and practical ways to hack our mindsets. More synonyms +-arsehole noun. One of the frustrating things about condescending people is that they often dont know theyre doing it, so its almost impossible to change them. Be respectful and dont gang up, but make it clear they are problematic. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Condescending people always have an opinion on everything, even if they dont know what the right answer is. People who are condescending tend to be more stubborn than most people. It can also arise from a sense of entitlement as if the condescending person believes that they are deserving more respect than those around them. Ive come across numerous condescending people in my life, and no matter how rationally I tried to speak to them about it Ive never been able to get them to see how theyre behaving. A respectful person often has an easier time talking to everyone and making more friends. We hear the tone of their voice, see their facial expressions, read their body language and can pick up their general energy. They may be more educated, experienced, or wealthy than the people they are speaking to. Condescending people often think that they are the most intelligent and knowledgeable person in the room, so they dont want to negotiate or compromise. However, dont try to make a joke that brings them down. One way to belittle them is to point out their shortcomings. She is a member of the International Board of Coaches and Practitioners (IBCP). Responding with an outburst of your own will only inflame the situation. Are you aware of the way you speak to people? Our website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. They lack both emotional intelligence and self-awareness, so they cant properly express themselves. One of the worst things you can do when dealing with condescending people is to lose your composure with them. If a colleague or a superior is talking down to you, report them to Human Resources so the pattern of behavior can be documented and addressed. Its a type of psychological mind control technique because it makes the person think that theyre inferior and nothing but an annoyance. Email You would hope the same from them if you spoke out of turn. [3] For example, if they are trying to get you to agree with them, say, I disagree or Id like you to stop asking me now. 4 Practice self-care. Laughter helps people relax. Being condescending to someone means talking down to them in a patronizing way.