Digging into the Origin of the Saying “Familiarity Breeds Contempt”
Have you ever wondered where the phrase “familiarity breeds contempt” came from? It’s a popular saying that has been around for centuries, and its origins might surprise you. In this article, we’ll explore the history and meaning of this famous phrase, as well as the psychology behind it.
The Origins of “Familiarity Breeds Contempt”
The phrase “familiarity breeds contempt” was first coined by Aesop, a Greek storyteller who lived in the 6th century BCE. In one of his fables, he told the story of a man who owned a donkey. The man loved his donkey and treated it well, but he allowed it to graze in his garden every day. Over time, the man became familiar with the donkey’s presence and began to take it for granted. Eventually, he grew tired of the donkey’s constant braying and started to dislike it, despite all the good it had done for him.
This fable illustrates the dangers of becoming too familiar with something or someone. When we are around something or someone all the time, we tend to stop appreciating them and may even start to resent them. This notion was later popularized by the French writer Jean de La Fontaine in his 17th-century adaptation of Aesop’s fables.
The Psychology Behind “Familiarity Breeds Contempt”
The concept of familiarity breeding contempt is supported by research in psychology. Familiarity is known to increase our liking for certain things or people, but only up to a point. After that, familiarity can actually breed negative feelings and lead to decreased liking.
This is because of a phenomenon called habituation. It’s a process by which we become desensitized to stimuli that we encounter regularly. For example, we might love a certain song the first few times we hear it, but after listening to it repeatedly, we might start to grow annoyed by it. Similarly, we might find a coworker charming and engaging when we first start working with them, but after a few weeks, we may start to find them annoying or uninteresting.
This is why it’s important to take breaks or change up our routines regularly. It can help prevent us from becoming too familiar with our surroundings and the people around us, which can lead to negative emotions such as contempt.
Examples of “Familiarity Breeds Contempt”
There are many examples in real life of the concept of familiarity breeding contempt. One commonly cited example is the way that spouses or partners may start to take each other for granted over time. They may stop appreciating each other’s positive qualities and start to focus on the negative aspects of their relationship.
Similarly, employees who have been working at the same company for a long time may start to become disillusioned with their jobs and their coworkers. They may start to feel like they’re stuck in a rut and become resentful of the company’s policies or the actions of their colleagues.
Conclusion
“Familiarity breeds contempt” is a well-known phrase that has been around for centuries. Its origins can be traced back to a fable by Aesop, and it is supported by research in psychology. The concept highlights the dangers of becoming too familiar with something or someone, as it can lead to negative emotions such as contempt. By taking breaks and changing up our routines regularly, we can help prevent this phenomenon from occurring in our own lives.
