Buzz
Being completely mistaken is problematic, but doubling down to persuade others of your correctness is far worse. This stubbornness, especially when faced with clear opposition, not only damages your credibility but can also make you appear as a bold hypocrite.
Even when surrounded by criticism, you might still feel your need for validation is reasonable. Consider the ongoing situation in Iowa politics: Democratic Congresswoman Rita Hart lost her reelection by a mere six votes. With such a narrow margin favoring Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Hart is pushing for a recount—specifically, a second one. She claims that “22 ballots were improperly excluded and others overlooked during the initial recount,” as reported by the Associated Press.
Amid the lingering fallout from Donald Trump’s contested 2020 presidential election, some online commentators are accusing Hart of hypocrisy. By refusing to concede, isn’t she contradicting her party’s stance against Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of election fraud? (It’s worth noting that these claims have been repeatedly debunked, as numerous unsuccessful lawsuits have proven.) Despite the backlash, Hart seems determined to pursue another recount, seemingly unfazed by the criticism. (It’s important to distinguish between ensuring every vote is counted and insisting on selective vote counting.)
Fortunately, there are methods to identify if you're acting hypocritically, and most of us don’t need to endure public humiliation to realize it.
You exhibit a sense of superiority
As Dean Burnett noted in the Guardian in 2016, individuals often have an overly positive self-image, which doesn’t extend to how they perceive others.
This stems from a psychological phenomenon related to how the brain perceives the self, he elaborated:
T
he brain is filled with cognitive and memory biases designed to make us believe we are good, decent, and competent
, regardless of the actual situation. However, our
assessments of others tend to be far more grounded in reality
.
In simpler terms, you might be hypocritical if you believe certain rules or standards apply to others but not to yourself. This could stem from thinking others aren’t as intelligent, qualified, or experienced as you are. To reduce this tendency, focusing on humility can be beneficial, a practice that many find universally helpful.
You prioritize image over genuine kindness
If your acts of kindness are primarily driven by a need to appear generous and selfless to others, you might be displaying hypocritical behavior. As psychologist Susan Krauss Whitbourne noted in Psychology Today four years ago, using altruism to maintain one’s image has long been a tactic employed by hypocrites.
Whitbourne explains:
Hypocrites often derive
motivation
from the need to project a positive image rather than from an intrinsic desire to achieve personal fulfillment.
You often display inconsistency in your actions
You might advocate for specific principles but regularly fall short of practicing them. This kind of inconsistency, in a broad sense, is a key characteristic of hypocrisy. For instance, do you passionately support progressive social causes but complain about government taxation every time you file your returns?
As highlighted in the European Journal of Psychology in 2015, inconsistency is defined as follows:
Advocating for moral standards that one does not follow personally; situations where public statements or implications contradict private behavior; cases where one’s expressed or implied beliefs DO NOT align with their actions.
While everyone can be inconsistent occasionally, if it becomes a defining trait rather than an occasional lapse, you might be exhibiting hypocritical behavior.
