What is petty behavior?

If you describe someone’s behavior as petty, you mean that they care too much about small, unimportant things and perhaps that they are unnecessarily unkind. [disapproval] He was petty-minded and obsessed with detail. Synonyms: small-minded, mean, cheap [informal], grudging More Synonyms of petty.

How can you tell if someone is petty?

Petty people don’t care about explanations or about understanding you. Instead of ignoring it or explaining what’s wrong, the petty person lashes out. Their reactions can be so disproportionate that we doubt our own judgment. Petty people make us wonder is we are, as we sometimes suspect late at night, terrible people.

What is a petty person example?

The definition of petty is someone who gets caught up in small details. An example of petty is a person who gets very angry when someone accidentally steps on their foot.

Is being petty a personality trait?

Psychologists have studied the petty personality type, and petty is not pretty: Petty people tend to have lower self-esteem, less impulse control and less resilience; they also have more trouble solving problems, are less content and typically have a more negative mindset.

Is being petty toxic?

Pettiness doesn’t automatically render someone ‘toxic’ or abusive. However, it can be part of a wider pattern of abusive behaviour.

How do you deal with someone who is petty?

5 Ways to Deal with Petty People While Maintaining Your Poise
  1. Breathe. In as much as you want to go She-Hulk on these people, it’s always best to stay composed. …
  2. Stand your ground. …
  3. If you can’t reason with them, ignore them. …
  4. If you can’t ignore them, put them in their place. …
  5. Just be fabulous.

Why do I want to be petty?

“For those who enjoy the game of competition and ‘one-downing’ others, pettiness can be very rewarding. The dopamine centers in the brain can register that act of being petty as a rewarding and ‘to-be-repeated’ behavior,” says Carla Marie, a California-based clinical psychologist.

How do I stop being petty in a relationship?

7 Relationship Tips to Prevent Petty Arguments
  1. Listen. …
  2. Pick your Battles. …
  3. Lighten Things Up. …
  4. Express Your Gratitude. …
  5. Say, Sorry. …
  6. Don’t Blame. …
  7. Know What Sets You Off.

What is the opposite of being petty?

petty. Antonyms: large, large-hearted, noble, generous, chivalrous, magnificent, liberal, broad. Synonyms: small, mean, paltry, ignoble, trifling, narrow, trivial, contemptible.

How can I be more petty?