Intransigent people: the cost of closed minds

Stubbornness, stubbornness… We could define intransigent people in many ways, and perhaps in most of them we would classify them as closed-minded. It is very difficult to live together and even share spaces with someone who clings to their own point of view as a rule. and is unable to listen to or take others into account.

Are we facing a disease? Obviously not. Is it some mental disorder? Neither. After all, we cannot label simple personality traits as clinical conditions.

There are ways of being, of conceiving the world and of behaving that can be problematic and this is where the usual challenge lies, in the difficulty of making life with someone who has a character with many corners.

The curious thing is that there are not too many studies on this type of profiles; We could say that there is too much rumor mill for not so much information. It is interesting to delve into the unique labyrinth of those who are defined by such marked cognitive conservatism. We analyze it.

What are intransigent people like?

There is something essential that should be clear. We all have the right to be intransigent about what we do not like or what is not in line with our values.. Doing it respectfully and assertively is part of the most basic repertoire of our social skills. Now, it is important not to make this defensive exercise a constant in one’s own behavior.

The latter is what defines intransigent people. A practice and a persistent attitude in opposition, in the taste for conflict, in the obsession with constant displeasure and in the art of stubbornness.

On the other hand, although we pointed out a moment ago that there are not many studies on this trait in the field of personality psychology, there was an area that was interested in this characteristic.

Social psychology has always wanted to know and delve into the processes of resistance to change (Zuwerink and Devine, 1996). What, for example, makes a person refuse to modify their position to reach an agreement? Why is someone not able to take into account arguments other than their own even if they are valid? From the Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid (Spain) they give us some keys in one of their studies.

Characteristics that define uncompromising people

We all know someone with whom it is very difficult to talk or reach agreements. Co-workers, friends, neighbors or even family. What is the reason for this stubbornness that is combined with selfishness? We analyze it.

Cognitive inflexibility, defined by the inability to change one’s thoughts. This competence is basic to allow us to learn, to improve by integrating new knowledge. Psychological reactance is another factor of great interest. This theory stated by Brehm defines those situations in which norms, suggestions or statements other than one’s own are automatically rejected by interpreting these dynamics as challenges to one’s own freedom. Intransigent people are always alert. They are also very susceptible to the comments or behaviors of others. They tend to interpret anything as a threat to their own dignity.Cognitive conservatism, for its part, profiles those minds that refuse to change their minds, to think differently. Even more, they demonstrate a clear inability to act flexibly when circumstances demand a necessary change. Unreasonable persistence in certain thoughts to increase the feeling of control and gain security. That is, this factor appears in those situations in which one you cling to your ideas, biases and stereotypes because you need the world to remain predictable. Everything that is different from what I think, that challenges my gridded world, is experienced as a threat and we react to it.

How to treat this personality profile?

How to live with someone you can’t talk to? How to work or reach agreements with intransigent people? It seems difficult, however, we already have something in our favor: we know the origin of their behavior. Nothing is as decisive as knowing what threads drive these types of problematic profiles.

Let’s reflect below on a series of strategies that may be useful.

How to successfully survive chronic intransigence

To navigate day-to-day life with chronic intransigence requires, first of all, patience and calm. If we lose our nerve we fully enter the territory of the intransigent and there we will have everything to lose.

It is advisable to always be above this personality and one way to achieve this is by having that mental balance that they lack. These keys can help us.

Use personal respect at all times. No matter how the other person responds, it is essential to be respectful. When you have a discussion or dialogue with these people, assume that in most cases you are not going to achieve anything. Don’t obsess over convincing them. Instead of arguing with them, allow them to give you all the possible arguments regarding what you are talking about. Average, The intransigent always provides very weak arguments based only on his own beliefs. Sooner or later it will be easy to contradict them. Avoid placing yourself on the same level. It is important that you have good control over your emotions.Set limits and boundaries. She reacts to disrespect with assertiveness: “Please, I ask you not to raise your voice at me.“Explain in a simple way the effects that this intransigent behavior can have. Any person who refuses to reach agreements or respect others will sooner or later suffer consequences. It is appropriate to let them know.

To conclude, who most and who least lives with a personality prone to this behavior. In the end, We learn to survive in all types of behavioral “fauna” and this is no exception.