Intransigent people: what they are, characteristics and how to deal with them

Stubborn, stubborn, closed-minded… these and some more are adjectives that describe very well how intransigent people are. It is difficult to live with them, especially because they cling so closely to their point of view and are so closed to listening and understanding the opinions of others that interacting with them is extremely difficult.

It is not a mental disorder or a psychological problem. Simply, there are people with a strong personality, unable to question their points of view to the point that, despite not being a clinical condition, they can cause problems of coexistence.

We are going to analyze how intransigent people are, what characteristics define them and how to deal with them.

• Related article: "The Major Theories of Personality"

What are intransigent people?

The word “intransigence” means to respect the pre-established limits. His adjective, to be intransigent, is used to describe a character or personality that does not compromise or pardon. When we speak of an intransigent person we refer to

someone who is not willing to give in or change her position to reach an agreement or close a debate.

Intransigent people do not accept that another individual may be right and, therefore, they also do not recognize that the other's arguments may be valid. You could say that they are in constant opposition, they like conflict and they are very stubborn.

First of all, something needs to be clarified. Although the most radical intransigence is not a desirable personality trait, we all have the right to show ourselves that way ever, especially when there is something that we do not like at all or that is very inconsistent with our system of beliefs. We must do it assertively, that is, respecting the opinions of others but being honest with what we do not like or that we consider not in tune with our values. But, also, it is important not to make this a constant in our own behavior.

• You may be interested: "5 ways to resolve a conflict effectively"

Characteristics of intransigent people

These are the main characteristics of uncompromising people.

1. cognitive inflexibility

Cognitive inflexibility can be defined as the inability to change your mind. Being cognitively inflexible is an obstacle to learning because, throughout our lives, it is necessary to be open to new ideas in order to expand our knowledge and be willing to pay attention to opinions or facts that do not correspond to what we host in our mind.

• Related article: "Cognition: definition, main processes and functioning"

2. psychological reactance

Another characteristic of uncompromising people is psychological reactance. This idea proposed by the American psychologist Jack Brehm defines the situations in which they are rejected in a rules, statements or suggestions other than their own when interpreting these ideas as threats to their own Liberty. In other words, it's the tendency to contradict anyone who contradicts our values.

3. constant alert

Uncompromising people are on constant alert. They are individuals very susceptible to the comments and behavior of others, interpreting any action as a potential threat to their dignity. Therefore, they are constantly prepared to fight back against any comment, no matter how innocent and not malicious, that they have perceived as personal criticism.

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4. cognitive conservatism

Cognitive conservatism refers to the situation in which a mind refuses to change its mind or think differently. This conservatism can become such in the case of intransigent people that, even finding themselves in a situation in which that a certain flexibility and open-mindedness is required in order to move forward, they are incapable of making such an exchange of ideas necessary.

5. Pathological need for control and prediction

Intransigent people show an unreasonable persistence regarding certain thoughts, something associated with an obsessive need for control and security. These people cling to their ideas, biases, and stereotypes because they need the world to be predictable. Anything that falls outside of their grid view of how the world works, they perceive as a threat and react negatively to it.

6. confirmation bias

These types of people are victims of confirmation bias, that is, they seek or only interpret information that confirms their opinions, instead of evaluating all the data. Information that refutes their views will be taken as false or of minor importance.

• Related article: "Confirmation bias: when we only see what we want to see"

How to deal with an intransigent person

It is quite likely that in your social environment there will be one or more uncompromising people. If this is the case and you wonder how to deal with them, the first thing you should do is do not run away from the situation and do not fight back with criticism. Instead of acknowledging and responding to their bad intentions, we must put the spotlight on ourselves, working on our self-esteem and conscience. Thus, we will be able to reaffirm our behavior and opinions in the face of the other's stubbornness and be calm when they are so cognitively inflexible.

When dealing with these types of people, it is highly recommended to apply the following strategies:

1. Seriously reconsider the relationship

If that uncompromising person does you more harm than good, it's time to seriously reconsider the relationship and distance yourself if necessary.

2. respect above all

It is essential to use personal respect at all times. No matter how the other responds, we must continue to be respectful with him or her because, if not, it is as if we agree with him or her.

• Related article: "Assertiveness: 5 basic habits to improve communication"

3. Assuming we probably won't accomplish anything

When you talk or argue with an uncompromising person, it is healthy to assume that most of the time you will not achieve anything. You don't have to be obsessed with convincing them Well, after all, they are still people obsessed with their own ideas and that is very difficult to change.

4. Let him talk and listen

Instead of arguing with them, let them talk and listen to all their arguments about what you are talking about. Intransigent people usually make very weak arguments based only on their own beliefs, not on the facts. If we listen to them well, it will be easy to keep them in mind when approaching them with information that contradicts them.

5. Expose the effects of their behavior

It is useful to explain to uncompromising people, in a simple and clear way, the effects your behavior may have. Any person who refuses to debate or reach an agreement will suffer, sooner or later, the consequences.