Idiot: meaning of the word and characteristic behavior

George Alvarez 18-10-2023
George Alvarez

To some this word may be a swear word or an expression that is unpleasant. However, do you know what it means idiot So, check our post to find out what it is and what are the characteristics of such a person.

What does the word idiot mean?

The first question we ask here to start our post is what does idiot mean According to the online dictionary Dicio, the word refers to a person who lacks intelligence, common sense, and discernment.

Also, we use this word to qualify an individual who says nonsense or nonsensical things. We also use this expression to distinguish a person who is very pretentious or shows excessive vanity.

The origin of the word is Greek coming from the expression "idiótes". The translation to our language would be a person who has no professional skill, something opposite to those who have some specialized job.

What are the characteristics of an idiot person?

As mentioned in the previous topic, the word idiot comes from the Greek and was used to designate people who devoted themselves only to their private affairs, that is, different from those citizens who participated in the affairs of public order or who held some public office.

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However, as time went by, the term began to be used in a derogatory way to qualify an uneducated, simple, ignorant person In popular parlance, an idiot is a fool or imbecile; moreover, he is a person devoid of common sense and intelligence.

Finally, an idiot person has actions that are not accepted by the majority of society, and his or her attitudes are usually referred to as foolishness.

Idiot for psychology

This word is also present in the field of psychology. This is because this obsolete term for a subject who has a profound mental retardation. In addition, for psychiatry, the idiot is an individual who suffers from "idiotia", that is, a diagnosis for those who have a high degree of mental retardation. This is linked to brain damage.

Finally, the person with this pathology has reduced vital capacities in a state very similar to a coma.

Book: The Idiot, by Dostoevsky

Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote a work entitled "The Idiot". The book presents the story of Michkin, a man who has epilepsy. He is a very good and humanistic man who always has attitudes of great passion. However, people see him as an idiot .

Michkin is so kind to others that at one point in the story he is blackmailed by a man who claims to be his illegitimate son, yet the moment this evildoer is unmasked, Michkin befriends rather than punishes the culprit.

Because of this "naivety", he is classified as an idiot, but even so, he accepts this insult. The book is a good tip for those who enjoy reading and can better understand the use of this term, as well as reflect on the issue of being an idiot and being benevolent.

How to identify an idiot?

In our daily lives, we are always liable to encounter people like this. But even with all the characteristics mentioned in the post, how can we distinguish a jerk in our coexistence?

It is worth pointing out that all people at some point may have played the role of an idiot. Sometimes, we may be ignorant about a certain specific, after all, we don't know everything. Idiotic people usually possess such characteristics:

  • arrogance;
  • prepotency;
  • authoritarianism;
  • pride.

These individuals like power and always want to be masked as if they had a crown on their head. This is because they don't want to be perceived as unwanted by others.

Examples

Some attitudes taken by these people in their daily lives make it easier to identify them, for example, when the individual demands to be called "doctor" because of his profession, or when he tries to cut in line at the supermarket, at the movies, or at the bank.

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Another example of idiocy is when in the traffic these people play their music very loud, without caring about the others. Anyway, examples of situations that idiotic people practice are not lacking. In fact, nowadays it is very common to find individuals who are like that.

How to deal with idiotic people?

It is worth pointing out that no one is immune from encountering a jerk, whether in the social, professional, or even family sphere. Although at times we ourselves can be the "jerk" in a given situation, there are people who are always like that.

Because of this, we need to learn how to deal with these subjects. However, it is necessary to keep in mind something we commented on in our post. There are people who are idiots because they don't have the knowledge to solve something. Therefore, these individuals need someone to teach them patiently, without being arrogant that he doesn't know a certain thing.

But people who are jerks because they think they are better than others need a different kind of treatment. After all, there are people who behave this way and they are part of our everyday life. So here are some tips for dealing with people like that:

See_also: Utopia and dystopia: meaning in psychology and philosophy

1. it is necessary to try

The first one when we see an idiot is to run well away from him. But first of all, we must try to understand what causes this kind of behavior If possible, be more benevolent to these people.

2. don't fight back

Another reaction when we are debating with an idiotic person is to curse or even act like an asshole, so it is necessary to be patient and take a deep breath before you say anything to this guy.

By the way, retort to the person's ideas wisely and calmly, because what an idiot wants is for you to argue with him Thus, the one who can win is him and not you.

3. have patience to listen

It may seem very difficult, but sometimes the idiot person just wants someone to listen to him. So develop empathetic listening, which is based on the principle of just listening to the person's idea without judging.

4. walk away from the person for good

Finally, even if you listen and give some guidance, the person does not change his behavior, it is better to stay away In addition, we ourselves need to stay away from these individuals for our own good.

Final remarks about the word idiot

We hope that our post has helped you understand more about what is idiotic For this reason, we invite you to get to know our complete Training Course in Clinical Psychoanalysis. If you are not interested in becoming a clinician, with our online classes you will be able to develop your personal side. In addition, you will better understand human relations and behavioral phenomena.

In this sense, our theoretical basis is founded so that the student can understand about the psychoanalytic area. In this way, our course is 18 months long and you will have access to theory, supervision, analysis and monograph. Finally, if you liked our post about the word idiot Comment below what you think.

I want information to enroll in the Psychoanalysis Course .

George Alvarez

George Alvarez is a renowned psychoanalyst who has been practicing for over 20 years and is highly regarded in the field. He is a sought-after speaker and has conducted numerous workshops and training programs on psychoanalysis for professionals in the mental health industry. George is also an accomplished writer and has authored several books on psychoanalysis that have received critical acclaim. George Alvarez is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and has created a popular blog on Online Training Course in Psychoanalysis that is widely followed by mental health professionals and students around the world. His blog provides a comprehensive training course that covers all aspects of psychoanalysis, from theory to practical applications. George is passionate about helping others and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his clients and students.