What does it mean - a sane person? By what criteria can one determine that one thinks sensibly, and the other does not? These questions worried even the philosophers of antiquity. For example, Aristotle understood the term "sanity" as a set of skills and features of people's perception, with the help of which they used the same characteristics when describing any subject or object, phenomenon.
In other words, Aristotle believed that sanity is directly related to both rationality and sensory perception, although it is different from both. According to the reflections of this philosopher, this personality trait helps people identify any phenomena, objects, emotions, actions and characterize them.
What is sanity? Definition
According to the generally accepted understanding, a sane person is one who acts and thinks rationally, based on objective premises and stereotypes accepted in society.
Thus, common sense, according to a generalizing definition, is nothing more than a combination of views on what is happening in life, on the surrounding reality, any phenomena or objects used by the vast majority of members of society.
Common sense is based on the skills and forms of thinking, perception acquired in the process of evolutionary development, society's ideas about morality, morality, "correctness" or "reasonableness" of something.
What is sanity in social psychology?
A sane person from the point of view of social psychology is one who adheres to generally accepted principles of perception of reality. In other words, this person shares the positions of the majority of society in relation to any issues, phenomena or something else.
Thus, in social psychology, sanity is given the following definition - it is a whole system that includes a set of ideas about reality accepted in society. Of course, in each individual culture, sanity is understood as something different, because the traditions accumulated over the centuries, ideas and the stereotypes of perception of reality formed under their influence are not the same.
What personality traits go hand in hand with sanity?
The term "sane person" is given the same meaning in everyday life as philosophers and psychologists put into it. In everyday life, sanity is understood primarily as a person's ability to adequate reasoning. In other words, peoplereasoning soberly, starting from real premises and not prone to "hovering in the clouds" - sane.
Also in the generally accepted aspect of understanding the term "sane person" there is such a feature as pragmatism. That is, people who have such a personality trait as sanity, or are prone to it, never make rash decisions, do not show haste and rely in their actions only on objective information about what is happening around
What is not common sense?
A sane person is not inclined to actions dictated only by his dreams or due to information that is not objectively confirmed. In other words, such people are distinguished by a high degree of rational thinking. All those qualities that are irrational are not characteristic of such a thing as "sanity".
People with this quality of personality have clear logical thinking. They are not inclined to succumb to the tricks of hoaxers, swindlers, deceivers. It is not typical for sanity to display anything unreasonable confidence, fanatical addictions, ill-conceived costs, or the absence of a permanent stable source of income.
There is a folk proverb about a titmouse in the hands and a crane in the sky. It most accurately characterizes what is characteristic of people with common sense, and what is alien. That is, “chasing a crane in the sky” is not typical for people with this personality trait. Sanea person will always choose "a titmouse in his hands." In other words, any actions, deeds or thoughts that are not rational and justified are not characteristic of such people.
Despite the inherent features of pragmatism and rationality, sanity is by no means a scientific, philosophical or general quality for all mankind. This is an extremely narrow perception of reality, characteristic of a particular individual social group. In other words, even within the same culture, common sense for different social groups of people will not be the same. Such a quality of a person as sanity is determined by the conditions surrounding a person. That is, sane people who belong to the "cream of society" and those who are employed in professions that involve hard daily physical labor think and behave differently.
What separates sanity from similar personality traits?
Under sanity is understood not only a certain type of process of perception of the surrounding reality and the specificity of reactions. In addition to the way a person thinks, this property includes a slightly different range of personal qualities.
One of the nuances that characterize sanity is the ability of the human mind to independently analyze and resist the beliefs of others. This means that the distinguishing feature of sane people is the ability of their mind to resist imposed judgments, agitation, various hoaxes, deceptions. That is, people who tend to think sensibly, with easedistinguish the true state of things from distorted by someone, from someone else's interpretations.
Also, thanks to the presence of common sense, people adapt to the realities around them. In other words, they naturally feel in the conditions in which they find themselves. For example, sanity allows a person to change occupations, acquire new skills or knowledge, if the need arises.
How to learn to think sensibly?
Many people strive to have sanity. Almost everyone would like to distinguish truth from fiction, not to take anyone's statements on faith, to separate truth from lies. Most people consider this personality trait to be extremely positive and necessary for life.
But how to become a sane person? There is no single answer to this question, since everyone has their own understanding of the term “sanity”. Among the general recommendations given by psychologists, the following are most often found:
- think about information on your own;
- don't take other people's decisions without thinking;
- carefully analyze life situations;
- define good and bad for yourself;
- don't give in to pressure from other people.
Of course, the acquisition of sanity includes the development of such qualities as pragmatism, attentiveness, rationality.
