Ahead of the curve: The psychology of contrarianism (2024)

FAQs

What is the psychology of being contrarian? ›

Contrarians may be seen as courageous, unconventional, counterintuitive thinkers, able to withstand herding pressures and even abuse from crowd-following conformists. Others may see them as maverick, out-of-touch, denialists 'living on another planet' and unable to see the obvious.

Finally, call them contrarians or call them nonconformists, but an ENTP type isn't afraid to go against the grain—whatsoever. In fact, it's what sets them apart.

uk. /kənˈtreə.ri.ən/ us. /kənˈtrer.i.ən/ disagreed with by most people, or liking to express opinions that most people disagree with: Among academics in the field, she takes a contrarian view.

What drives contrarians to go against the grain so resolutely? Some are skeptics who have been burned by conventional ideas, such as the child of divorce who swears off marriage for life. Others use defiance to get attention. But many are looking to establish their own identities as distinct from a larger group.

Not only do they not like to coordinate, they need to be different, if for no other reason than to prove that no one will make them fit a mold. In other words, most narcissists are contrarians.

This can be both a positive and negative label. The positive is that, sometimes, the contrarian view turns out to be correct. And, even when the future is unknown, the debate unsettled, a contrarian view serves to counter soft consensus thinking.

The Dark Triad personality traits – narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism – can be toxic and damaging in the workplace. But be aware that someone exhibiting these traits may initially be a high achiever and potentially charming, conscientious and achievement-oriented.

The Craftsman: ISTP

Deep down, people with the ISTP personality type are spontaneous, unpredictable individuals, but they hide those traits from the outside world, often very successfully.

“A contrarian isn't one who always objects — that's a conformist of a different sort. A contrarian reasons independently, from the ground up, and resists pressure to conform.”

How to deal with a contrarian? ›

“Ask them to respect how you feel by not taking such a confrontational approach when talking to you. And if there are certain topics that are especially difficult, such as politics, then call them out in particular and ask that they avoid them when talking with you.”

adverse antagonistic clashing contrary incompatible inconsistent opposing paradoxical. Strong match. opposed.

Taking a neutral position is fine. The key is for them to not view you as being against them. Earn their trust and respect and they'll treat you better than they do many other people. And, when you do choose to take a contrary position, their opinion of you will soften their attack.

Contrary characters are often characterized by their tendency to take the opposite stance or position than what is expected or conventional. At the same time, Contrary characters may also feel a sense of pride or satisfaction in their ability to think independently and stand up for their beliefs.

A contrarian is a person with a preference for taking a position opposed to that of the majority. Contrarians perceive themselves as extremely independent, free-thinking individualists. Others perceive them as really annoying and dislikable. They are low in agreeableness on the Big Five personality scale.

The character trait Contrary refers to a person who is always inclined to do the opposite of what is expected or desired. Such a person may have a tendency to disagree with others and to challenge established norms and beliefs.

“Ask them to respect how you feel by not taking such a confrontational approach when talking to you. And if there are certain topics that are especially difficult, such as politics, then call them out in particular and ask that they avoid them when talking with you.”

Anyone who thinks that most of what the public believes is wrong would be called a contrarian. And contrarian is a basic term in the vocabulary of investing.

Britannica Dictionary definition of CONTRARIAN. [count] : a person who takes an opposite or different position or attitude from other people. As an investor, he's a contrarian, preferring to buy stocks when most people are selling.