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ChangingMinds Blog! > Blog Archive > 11-Sep-09

 


Friday 11-September-09

Super-duper-superlatives

Isn't it wonderfully brilliant how we so often describe things in such superb and glowing terms? Superlatives are fantastic adjectives that let us put really good emphasis on all sorts of splendid things, and, by goodness, we do make incredible use of them.

A key reason for this pattern comes from our deep need for a sense of identity, and the approach we take to gaining the admiration of others.. If we can make them shocked and amazed, then their intensified attention strokes our egos and makes us feel good.

This exaggeration easily turns into a game, either of mutual attention or competition for attention. You can see the effect in a group of excited gossipers as each describes wonderful or terrible things whilst others show suitably exaggerated amazement whilst waiting their turn.

Where there is competition (and even gossiping friends compete) , we end up trying to out-do others in the intensity of description. It's as if there is a kind of superlatives arms race. If you describe your interests in glowing terms, then I must use even more brilliant adjectives, which you in turn must out-do.

On the negative side, many self-destructive syndromes use intensified language. Therapist Albert Ellis, originator of Rational-Emotional Behavior Therapy (REBT), described a process known as 'awfulizing', where we tell ourselves how dreadful our lives are and how we absolutely must do certain things lest terrible consequences are received.

Another reason for this escalating exaggeration is our deep need is for stimulation. Whilst a superlative may satisfy this need for now, we soon become used to it and so need an even more extreme description to be dragged out of the ho-hum of everyday language. It's like drugs -- each 'fix' has to be stronger than the last one.

And where does it all go? Perhaps Mary Poppins had the answer: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!.


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Site Menu

| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

 

 

Please help and share:

 

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

+ Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

About
Guest Articles
Blog!
Books
Changes
Contact
Guestbook
Quotes
Students
Webmasters

 

| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links |

© Changing Works 2002-
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