Today itβs not so often that you hear someone called a snob. Rather, this term is used in the literature. Snobbery - what does it mean? Surely each of us met a man who, as it were, boasted of his "not like everyone else's" position. He arrogantly refers to people who speak differently, read other books, listen to other music, etc. We call such a person a snob and feel some kind of falsity in his behavior, as if he had put on a mask of an intellectual and an aristocrat . What are the main characteristics inherent in such a person?
Snob Characteristics
Snobbery - what is this "beast"? The main category that snob operates on is high society. Such a person simply dreams of being involved in it and does everything possible to approach such people. Snob imitates the manners, habits, and tastes that, in his opinion, are inherent in the elite. Although such a person himself does not belong to representatives of high society, he is merciless to the "mere mortals."
The meaning of the word "snobbery" has a mostly negative connotation in connection with the arrogant attitude of a person towards people other than him. The lower class, according to the snob, does not reach intellectually to its level. Here you need to remember who they originally called that. The first meaning literally is "the apprentice of the shoemaker", then it expanded to "commoner". Further, the concept of "snob" began to be associated with a commoner who imitates aristocrats with his behavior. Thus, the term itself characterizes a snob as a person who wants to come closer to a higher community, who hates his origin and despises in any way his any manifestations.
Psychological aspects of snobbery
Why is snobbery so remarkable? What is this phenomenon in the modern world? Although this concept is not used widely in ordinary speech, snobs themselves are quite common. They claim some exclusivity of everything that they do. But there are people with the same interests and hobbies as a snob, but unlike the latter, they do not boast of their addictions. The fact is that snobbery is a show. Such a person strives with all his might to show his exceptionalism. He denies himself and tries to imitate some ideal. Deep dissatisfaction with their position and even an inferiority complex become the causes of snobbery.
Snobbery - what is it in terms of benefit and harm?
At first glance, this phenomenon has only negative aspects. Snob exudes contempt for people unlike him, while he himself is not something remarkable. However, the benefits and harms of snobbery in society cannot be judged unilaterally. Firstly, the phenomenon characterizes society as class divided. This means that there is a gap between the so-called higher and lower society. After all, snobbery is nothing but a sophisticated form of envy. Secondly, snobs (no matter the motives underlying their behavior) tend to manifest intelligence and aristocracy. And this maintains to some extent the cultural level of society.