Who is a pedant
A pedant is a very precise, neat and tidy person, with a penchant for following rules and requirements, as well as scrupulous attention to order. Pedantry manifests itself differently in different people, but it still affects certain aspects of life. Such a person can be very neat and pay a lot of attention to how his clothes look. But, at the same time, if a follower of fashion trends examines his wardrobe, he will not find anything interesting in it.
In some cases, pedantry is painful and can even take a manic form. It is impossible to answer unequivocally the question of whether such a trait is an advantage or a disadvantage for the pedant himself. For some this is a big plus, but for others it is a minus, because of which it is impossible to live and work like other people. For example, pedantic lawyers can express their thoughts correctly and accurately and select words so as to avoid misinterpretation. In addition, they are successful in this matter, because... constantly use a list of references that can help in a specific matter. As for personal life, pedantry often gets in the way.
How did the term come about?
To understand who a pedantic person is, you need to know the meaning of the words “pedantry” and “pedant”. They appeared in the Russian language from Latin, and into it through French. Translated from French, pédant means “teacher.” This word comes from the Latin paedagogans, which translates as “teacher.” Initially, in Russian, this word was used to describe a teacher who requires students to follow all the rules.
It's important to consider the context here because education today is very different from what it was 200 years ago. Then the teacher acted as a mentor who taught children literacy and the wisdom of life. And the word “pedant” stuck with the most picky teachers who were proud of their own learning and flaunted it. In the modern world, this definition is applied to an overly neat person who follows all the rules and requirements, even of a formal nature.
Definition in psychology
In the literature on psychology, there is the concept of “pathological pedantry,” which defines a person’s precise and strong desire for order, and his actions can reach complete delirium. Strangers, often observing such an individual from the outside, think that he has mental disorders.
For example, he can come up with things that he must do. This could be a ready-made menu for the whole week or a schedule of when and what set of clothes to wear. Anankast never forgets anything, but he must be sure that he has turned off the water, gas, etc., so he constantly checks everything. It takes a pedant much more time to complete any task than an ordinary person, even if it is related to everyday issues.
Such people often wash dishes before eating, as well as vegetables before cooking, in order to do everything thoroughly. Psychologists are convinced that pathological pedantry is the inability to distinguish the important from the unimportant.
Pedantic people are ideal candidates for performing important tasks, because... they will not submit a project until they are confident that it is accurate and meets the requirements. This is due to the psychology of anankasts - they don’t know any other way.
Pathological pedantry
In psychology there is the concept of “pathological pedantry.” It means the desire for accuracy and order, taken to the point of absurdity.
A pathologically pedantic person is one who is unable to distinguish significant details from insignificant ones , is tormented by unnecessary doubts, and is overly concerned with rules and lists to the detriment of the activity itself.
There is a special name for this type of personality - anankast. This word is derived from the name of the goddess Ananke.
In ancient Greek mythology, Ananke is the goddess of necessity, inevitability, an irresistible force weighing on people and even gods.
The actions performed by anankast are reminiscent of a ritual : menus for lunch and dinner, the selection of clothes and shoes are scheduled weeks in advance, prepared documents are repeatedly double-checked, and curtains hanging at the wrong angle disturb the peace of mind.
Pedantry here acquires the features of a disease and can transform into compulsive disorder and psychosis.
Signs of pedants
A pedantic person can be easily recognized by his appearance and behavior. He is always neat and well-groomed, with a neat hairstyle, there is no facial hair or it is simply carefully styled. There is no doubt that the pedant will not leave the house in crumpled things or dirty shoes. His wardrobe almost always contains new things, from which it is impossible to tell whether they have been worn or not. Basically, pedants prefer simple clothes of a classic style. They do not have the goal of impressing others by walking around in fashionable things.
Behavior is a more important criterion than appearance and clothing. External neatness and grooming only reflect the internal demands of a pedant towards himself and others. His pedantry is evident both in work and in his personal life. In a profession, this personality trait can be useful. Pedants make first-class accountants, successful lawyers, and outstanding scientists. But for the family, this is a real punishment, because in everyday life, excessive meticulousness does not make people happy.
How to recognize a pedant?
You can identify a pedant by his appearance and demeanor. In most cases, neatness extends to such a person’s clothing, his overall appearance and demeanor. It is unlikely that anyone will see a real pedant in a crumpled suit, with dirty shoes or holey gloves. More often than not, he is dressed to the nines, preferring classic clothes rather than the fashionable designs of the latest designer. Therefore, an adult pedant can dress old-fashioned and still feel absolutely comfortable. It is in this form that he most often appears in the imagination of those who think about pedantry.
But the main criterion, nevertheless, is related to the behavior of this type of personality. Excessive neatness and accuracy manifests itself in increased demands on oneself and others. In addition, these qualities take place both at work and in the family. Pedantry does not distinguish between situations. It is equally expressed in all areas of life.
Therefore, a first-class accountant, who is practically “carried around” by his colleagues, may be less joyfully perceived by his spouse and friends. Attention to detail, the desire for orderliness and accuracy are manifested always and everywhere. In one case, this is appropriate, but in another, it annoys others. But a pedant is like that, and it is advisable to treat him with understanding as soon as he is identified.
How to communicate with a pedant
If a loved one is a pedant, then when interacting with him it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of his character. This is due to the fact that even minor untidiness, as well as irresponsibility, can make him angry and irritated. And if you do not meet his ideas of beauty, he will soon be disappointed in you.
If in his presence you show punctuality, accuracy, accuracy and scrupulousness, then he will distinguish you from others. If you understand who a pedant is, it will be easy to please him. Strictness must be observed, especially in dress and behavior. For communication to become closer, and for you to be perceived as a friend or future partner for creating a family or love relationship in this case, you won’t have to wait long.
To pass an interview, you can pretend to be a pedant. If a potential manager is not a pedantic person, he will note this character trait as an advantage for the candidate.
If you have no interest in a close relationship with a pedant, then it is better to avoid unnecessary communication with him. With his demandingness, he can ruin the mood of both himself and you. But at the same time, because of pedantry, a person does not automatically become bad. It would be more correct to say that he has “sharp corners” that you can learn to smooth out if you are interested in communication.
Communication with a pedant
Pedantic people are fixated on rules and order, which is associated with great difficulties in their personal lives. People close to the pedant have a hard time. In order to please your partner and not cause his dissatisfaction, you need to meet his standards and share his ideas about cleanliness, comfort, and household duties. Such people constantly check that all things are in their designated places.
A pedantic man, noticing a small fold in his clothes, will certainly reproach his wife for dishonestly doing housework. Having understood what a pedantic man is, it is enough to adhere to simple rules so that life with a partner brings only positive emotions. What to do and what not to do:
- Accept as an immutable truth that the established order for a partner is an important component of life.
- Realize that any deviations from plans and accepted principles in the family will be perceived painfully by him. If you are invited to visit, you should inform your partner in advance about the upcoming visit. Rearrangements in the apartment and other changes must be warned in advance so that a person who is accustomed to certain conditions can reorient and mentally prepare for the changes.
- Support your partner in endeavors that involve the need to master new tactics, develop new plans, and apply a creative approach. A pedantic person reacts sharply to changes in everyday life and at work, including moving to another home, moving to a new position, or the birth of a child.
- Seek help from your partner when you need to carefully plan an upcoming important event - a joint vacation, streamlining the family budget, organizing a special event. By entrusting such tasks to a pedantic person, you can be sure of a successful result. At a crucial moment, you will not have to deal with inconsistencies, mistakes, or shortcomings, because the plan will be thoroughly thought out and scrupulously implemented.
- Give reasons for your actions if you want to change something. Explain to your partner that you have rearranged his shirts in the closet so that it is convenient for him to match his trousers. The new location of the toothpaste and shampoo tube in the bathroom is due to the need to create greater comfort.
A pedantic person is a person with whom it is easier to communicate if you justify and support your position with arguments, which involves the use of visual forms such as messages and letters. It is convenient to express thoughts in a written document, accompanying them with visual components - diagrams, drawings, drawings. An idea presented in this format will not go unnoticed and will be considered in order of priority, taking into account the degree of importance.
In order for a pedantic person to understand what his excessive pettiness means for his partner, it is recommended to use not only words, but also examples from popular films. Watching the comedy films “Man with a Plan” (South Korea, 2014) and “Turner and Hooch” (USA, 1989) together will lift your spirits and help you look from the outside at people who suffer from excessive pedantry.
The words “pedantic person” can be heard in relation to an individual who attaches importance to little things, is characterized by increased accuracy, conscientiousness, and attention to non-essential requirements and details. Within the acceptable norm, pedantry is associated with thoroughness, the desire to complete started tasks, and clear planning. Hypertrophy of this character trait can result in a mental disorder for an individual.
Advantages and disadvantages
Thanks to scrupulousness, pedantic people carefully analyze information and make decisions based on this. This approach to work is especially valuable in various fields of activity. A manager who understands the characteristics of a pedant will entrust him with the work with finances or legal documents. Pedants are excellent auditors, engineers and scientists. They achieve success in business because they know how to handle money and rarely take unnecessary risks.
Pedantry is useful for any person managing important business processes. This character trait is inherent in a neat and careful person. Thanks to it, it effectively avoids pitfalls by slightly reducing performance. If the manager is a pedant, then the company will avoid many problems associated with an unstable market and possible difficulties within the company. Often in business, pedantry is as important as creativity or determination.
The disadvantages of pedantry greatly affect your personal life. In relationships and friendships, people do not try to strictly follow the rules. Personal and friendly communication often involves a casual and relaxed atmosphere. And if someone makes excessive demands on others, then few people will like it. Therefore, pedants often have an unsettled personal life and no close friends. To solve this problem, you should take a simpler approach to life.
In some cases, pedantry reaches the point that a person with such a trait himself experiences discomfort and is clearly aware of this, but cannot do anything. He has no desire to waste energy on observing the rules he has established himself, but at the same time, attempts made not to follow them irritate him, as a result of which he experiences stress and becomes depressed. If the pedant is in such a state, then there is only one way out - leave. You can also visit a psychotherapist.
Pros and cons of a pedantic nature
A big difficulty for a pedantic child is making decisions. Although he tries to think everything through carefully, it is still difficult for him to take the first step - to start acting. A barrage of doubts, as well as constant self-examinations, prevent him from being decisive.
However, this model of behavior has many advantages:
- Pedants are non-conflict individuals. What explains this? Such children do not know how to quickly respond to force majeure situations. They often need more time to come up with compelling arguments in their defense.
- Constantly improve their personality. Thanks to deep analysis, they understand the essence of many things. This, in turn, motivates them to change for the better.
- They love order. Chaos gives them negative feelings. These children get used to living in a system or according to established rules. They don't even think about breaking them.
Such lofty motives develop immeasurable severity and pickiness in the child. They have the opinion that others are obliged to be as sensible and careful as they are. When their expectations are not met, pedants become terribly upset.
Pedantry is
Pedantry is a personality quality that is expressed in strict adherence to rules, accuracy in business, everyday life, scrupulousness, and adherence to detail. A pedantic person strives to maintain the usual way of life and follow accepted formal norms.
Pedantry can manifest itself to a mild degree - in this case it helps favorable socialization, the individual follows the norms of society. But there are also abnormal manifestations, which can be explained by psychoneurological disorders that are expressed in obsessions. Such people are called anancasts.
In work, the individual consciously adheres to pedantry in order to obtain maximum benefit. A high level of pedantry in work and a painfully high level are different. In the first case, a person strives for rationality and this does not bring him strong experiences. The painful form has an obsessive nature.
Differences between a pedant and a perfectionist
People often confuse a pedant with a perfectionist, but this should not be done. People from the first category pay a lot of attention to detail and strictly follow all the rules. If he is convinced of the correctness of his actions and the work performed, then he will be satisfied even with an imperfect result.
At the same time, perfectionists are often careless and prefer to perform work duties in “creative chaos.” They don't try to follow the rules in the process. The main thing for them is an impeccable result. Pedants and perfectionists pay a lot of attention to detail, but the reasons for each of them are different. A perfectionist is afraid of an imperfect result and treats any condemnation or criticism aggressively, while a pedant fears that he himself will be imperfect.
Considering all the facts about pedants, it will be easier to understand them if there are such people around. The main thing is not to try to change them and impose your point of view.
