/ˈpeɪtrənaɪzɪŋ/ If you are patronizing, you tend to speak down to others, acting as though you are smarter, classier, or just plain better than anyone else. For the record, your snobby attitude is not impressing anyone.
Telling Someone that they Always or Never do Something
Saying things like “You always make that mistake” or “You never do things properly” is extremely patronizing. It makes the other person feel like a complete failure and by putting them down like that, they are actually more likely to act in that way.
Condescending behavior is having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority; showing that you consider yourself better or more intelligent. It is usually intended to make people feel bad about not knowing or having something and it often works.
A subtle form of bullying, being patronised can leave you feeling infuriated and impotent. It's a type of behaviour that cuts across generations. An older person can talk down to a younger colleague, but it can just as easily happen the other way around. Men can patronise women at work and vice versa.
Watch out for these patronizing behaviors
Use phrases such as “you always” or “you never,” that can cause the other person to feel defensive and make them feel judged. Tell someone who is expressing their frustration to “take it easy,” “relax” or “calm down.”
The family patronizes the arts. He hated being patronized and pitied by those who didn't believe his story. “I'm sure you did your best even though you failed.” “Please don't patronize.” I patronize the library regularly.
Call Them On It
Calmly and professionally call out the patronizing person without without making a scene or being dramatic by pointedly yet politely saying, “Gee, that comment sounded a bit condescending to me. Mind dropping the attitude?” Hopefully, he takes you up on the do-over opportunity.
But their condescension is likely to be a protective or deflective mechanism to draw attention away from their own feelings of insecurity. They patronize others as a way to avoid any expression or hint of weakness in themselves.
2 Answers. "Condescending" and "patronizing" are synonyms and therefore can typically be used interchangeably. Condescending - "having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority." Patronizing - "apparently kind or helpful but betraying a feeling of superiority; condescending."
Examples of Condescending Behaviors
Insulting/belittling comments. Talking down to you. Name-calling. Saying something hurtful but disguising it as a "joke"
/ˈpeɪtrənaɪzɪŋ/ If you are patronizing, you tend to speak down to others, acting as though you are smarter, classier, or just plain better than anyone else. For the record, your snobby attitude is not impressing anyone.
speaking or behaving toward someone as if they are stupid or not important: It's that patronizing tone of hers that I can't bear.
We refer to such praise as patronizing praise: it suggests that one person is superior by putting someone else down, whilst remaining outwardly friendly and (seemingly) well-intended.
So rather than take offense, assert yourself in “a calm, positive way,” she suggests. A simple “thank you for your help” will suffice, concurs Gregory Jantz, PhD, a renowned psychologist and book author. “If you answer in your own natural voice, with respect and good manners, you reset the tone,” he explains.
OTHER WORDS FOR condescending
patronizing, disdainful, supercilious.
What is Demeaning Behaviour? Demeaning behaviour is any action or communication that makes someone else feel inferior or less valuable than they actually are. This behaviour comes in many different forms. Expressions of demeaning behaviour may include verbal, non-verbal, and overt behaviours.
If someone patronizes you, they speak or behave toward you in a way that seems friendly, but that shows that they think they are superior to you in some way. Don't you patronize me!
Patronizing refers to treating someone with apparent kindness which betrays a feeling of superiority. Condescending refers to displaying a superior attitude.
The base word of patronizing, patron, comes from the Latin patrōnus, meaning “legal protector” or “advocate” (patrōnus comes from the Latin pater, meaning “father”). To patronize someone in a condescending way is to treat them as if they're in need of extra help because they're not capable by themselves.
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.
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.