Psychological Rigidity

Not only our bodies can become rigid-our thinking and behavior can as well. Psychological rigidity is a state in which we stubbornly stick to our beliefs and behavioral patterns, showing little readiness for change or adaptation. In this article, we’ll explore how to recognize psychological rigidity and what methods can help overcome it.

What Is Rigidity?

Rigidity is the opposite of flexibility; the very word comes from the Latin rigidus (meaning “stiff” or “hard”). People who are excessively rigid have a hard time changing their point of view and adapting to external changes.

There are three main types of rigidity:

• Cognitive Rigidity
  A person with cognitive rigidity cannot change their perceptions of the world around them. For example, they might believe that “random people are idiots,” “professors are frauds,” “all magazines lie,” or “there are conspiracies everywhere.” Because of this, they struggle to communicate outside of familiar categories, can’t adapt their actions in stressful situations, and are nearly impossible to persuade in a conflict. For them, a discussion is just a way to prove they’re right-until everyone else agrees or gives up.
• Affective Rigidity
  Someone with affective rigidity gets emotionally “stuck” on certain objects or situations, and their emotional response doesn’t always match the real event. For example, if their coffee has too little cream on Monday morning, it can ruin their entire week-they’ll keep replaying the event until Sunday night. On the positive side, a person with affective rigidity might also enjoy a small gift, like a flower, for an entire week.
• Motivational Rigidity
  People with this type of rigidity find it hard to adjust their motivation system when circumstances change. For example, someone used to earning a lot may struggle more than others during an economic crisis or when they have to look for a new job. Many teams discovered motivational rigidity when switching to remote work, where self-motivation became essential and led to frustration for some.

The Unexpected Benefits of Rigidity

The definition of rigidity might make you think of someone unpleasant-stubborn, narrow-minded, or even difficult. It’s tempting to call such a person short-sighted, but even brilliant scientists can dislike Zoom meetings and other innovations.

Still, rigid people aren’t necessarily bores, potential abusers, or old-fashioned. Rigidity can provide qualities like persistence and confidence in one’s ideas. It also helps maintain focus when performing routine tasks at work or at home, pairs well with linear thinking, and allows people to operate on “autopilot.”

In the workplace, rigidity can be balanced by flexibility in communication. A reluctance to learn new technologies can be offset by creativity when dealing with outdated techniques (for example, do you know how to fix a button phone?).

How to Communicate with Rigid People

Such a person is usually not interested in being persuaded, learning something new, or having their horizons broadened-they’re comfortable as they are (even if they’re not, they won’t show it). Still, if a discussion touches on important topics like work, family, or values, you can use a few simple strategies:

• Get Them Interested
  “Do you want an orange?”-“No.”-“What if I peel it for you?”
  Curiosity or convenience can make someone set aside their usual stubbornness and listen to you.
• Use Familiar Examples
  Maybe they dislike smartphones but love science fiction. That could be a starting point for your conversation.
• End the Conversation
  If someone is arguing just for the sake of arguing, you won’t get anywhere-sometimes it’s best to just end the discussion.

A little rigidity is not always a bad thing. However, psychologists believe that mental flexibility makes people much happier: they don’t get stuck in negative emotions and are more adaptable in uncertain situations.