Hypocritical

Hypocrisy is the practice of engaging in the same behavior or activity for which one criticizes another or the act of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform. In moral psychology, it is the failure to follow one’s own expressed moral rules and principles.

Etymology

The word hypocrisy comes from the Greek word hypokrisis, which means "jealous", "play-acting", "acting out", "coward" or "dissembling". The word originated in the mid-13th century.

Types of Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy can manifest in many ways, primarily through:

• Moral Hypocrisy: When individuals' moral judgments conflict with their behaviors.
• Intellectual Hypocrisy: When what one professes to believe intellectually conflicts with one's actual beliefs.
• Political Hypocrisy: When a political figure's actions or policies contradict the values they promote.

Psychological Perspectives

From a psychological perspective, hypocrisy can be a result of cognitive dissonance, a state of discomfort experienced when one holds two or more conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes.

Societal Impact

Hypocrisy can have a significant impact on society, as it can undermine trust in social institutions and erode the moral fabric of society.

Religious Views

Many religions condemn hypocrisy. In Christianity, for example, Jesus criticizes the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy in the New Testament.

See Also

• Double standard
• Ethics
• Moral psychology
• Cognitive dissonance