Familiarity breeds contempt is a well-known phrase that implies that the more we get to know somebody or something, the less we like them. The phrase originated in the 14th century and is embedded in Aristotelian psychology. However, the meaning of the phrase has evolved over time, and today, it refers to the idea that the more familiar we are with someone or something, the more prone we become to judge them or it harshly.
In psychological terms, familiarity is a phenomenon that describes our tendency to prefer, trust, and even care for things that are familiar to us. If we come across something familiar, our brain is wired to perceive it as safer than something new or unfamiliar. However, over time, the novelty of the familiar object wears off, and we start noticing its flaws, weaknesses, and an array of things we dislike.
The psychological explanation for this phenomenon suggests that the reason why familiarity breeds contempt is due to a basic human desire for change and unpredictability. We tend to value things and people that are dynamic, diverse, and new, and once something becomes familiar, it loses its novelty and becomes predictable.
There are many examples of situations where familiarity breeds contempt. For instance, couples in long-term relationships often criticize each other for the same traits, which they used to find endearing initially. Similarly, employees who work together for extended periods of time can develop negative opinions about their colleagues, which would have seemed strange when they first met.
Moreover, familiarity can breed contempt in our relationships with ourselves as well. For instance, when we start identifying our personality traits too strongly, we tend to overlook the traits that don’t align with our self-image, leading to a one-sided analysis of our character.
In conclusion, familiarity breeds contempt is a widely recognized phrase that refers to our tendency to dislike familiar things. The psychological explanation for this phenomenon lies in our desire for change and unpredictability, which vanishes when something becomes familiar. Being conscious of this phenomenon can help us prevent its occurrence and maintain healthy relationships with ourselves and others.
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