We all have an idea of what pedantry is. This is meticulous to the smallest detail compliance with established rules and requirements. Speaking the word "pedant", we imagine a neat, restrained and punctual person, carefully performing his work and not requiring external control for this.
What is pedantry as a pathology
Pedantry does not manifest itself as a pathology at once: at first glance, we are just a very meticulous person, accustomed to accuracy and order in everything. But over time, it becomes clear that the pedant psychopath is simply not capable of making decisions. To take the “last step”, to move from a theoretical solution to the problem to action is an impossible task for him.
By displaying manic pedantry, such a person rechecks the accuracy of his conclusions a hundred times, even in cases when a sane person has long been clear. In psychiatry, such people who are accustomed to chewing on an endless “mental chewing gum” are called anancastic type personalities.
Before closing the front door, the Anankast will repeatedly check whether all household appliances are turned off. And any homework he will take much longer than an ordinary person: after all, everything should be washed and wiped not just good, but perfect. To do this, the dishes are washed 2-3 times, the rags are washed with soap, and everything is ironed, including socks.
What is pedantry in the workplace: is it so bad?
True, pedantic personalities, unlike the Anancastes, do not always exhibit such meticulousness, and often their behavior remains completely acceptable to society. Such people in the workplace, as a rule, have a lot of advantages due to their seriousness, responsibility and ability to do work "perfectly". Pedants are formalists, hook-makers and “bores”, but not a single trifle escapes their attention, they do not make hasty decisions and approach everything thoroughly. For this, their bosses value them and respect their colleagues.
What is pedantry that has become obsessive
Pedantry can be detrimental only when it is reinforced by neuroses, that is, it becomes painful. In such cases, anxiety and inability to make a final decision is especially acute. Checking dozens of times if the assigned work is done well enough, the Anancast cannot decide for himself that it has already been completed. He begins to noticeably lag behind his colleagues, which makes him work overtime, plunging deeper into the abyss of uncertainty about the results of his work.
Anankastas are characterized by hypochondriacal experiences, suspiciousness, anxiety. Moreover, in people subject to such a pathological condition, the listed fears take on a bizarre character: the Anancast is not afraid of death from any disease, he is afraid of being afraid of this death. It is not the fear of being robbed that is inherent in it, but the fear of fear of being robbed, etc.
This leads to a mass of “counteractions”, rituals that should protect the Anancastle from obsessions. At the same time, he understands the absurdity of what is happening, but there is nothing he can do about it. In advanced states, anancasm develops into manic-depressive pedantry, which manifests itself as paroxysmal manifestations of painful pedantry, which reaches the complete impossibility of engaging in any kind of activity and, accordingly, causing a patient to feel powerless and severely depressed.