What does the idiom familiarity breeds contempt mean?

Familiarity is used especially in the expression familiarity breeds contempt to say that if you know a person or situation very well, you can easily lose respect for that person or become careless in that situation. Familiarity with evil breeds not contempt but acceptance.

Where does the saying familiarity breeds contempt come from?

The expression familiarity breeds contempt was first used in English in the 1300s by Geoffrey Chaucer, in his work, Tale of Melibee.

Who said success breeds contempt?

The English writer Geoffrey Chaucer was the first to use this expression. It appeared in his work Tale of Melibee, in the 1300s.

Why is familiarity important in a relationship?

One of the reasons why proximity matters to attraction is that it breeds familiarity; people are more attracted to that which is familiar. Just being around someone or being repeatedly exposed to them increases the likelihood that we will be attracted to them.

How important is similarity for relationship success?

And these are the factors that appear to predict relationship success—couples with more similar attitudes, values, and backgrounds tend to experience more lasting satisfaction, companionship, intimacy, and love and are less likely to break up.

Do you know the saying “familiarity breeds contempt”?

Mark Copeland: You have likely heard the saying “familiarity breeds contempt”, which means… a. The better we know people, the more likely we are to find fault with them. – The New b. If you know someone very well or experience something a lot, you stop respecting them. – The Free Dictionary c.

Does familiarity breed liking?

A body of research actually suggests that familiarity breeds liking, but clearly sometimes it does the opposite. So when does getting to know more about a person make us like them more and when does it make us like them less?

What causes contempt in a relationship?

In relationships, the problem is not with familiarity, but more about that to which we’re acclimating. For example, disrespectful, dishonoring, and negative energy all too often becomes familiar territory in relationships. These are the elements that cause contempt. Perhaps we’d be better off saying mediocrity or unhappiness breed contempt.

Is familiarity ruining your relationship?

In loving relationships that embrace emotional support and respect, familiarity produces a wonderful life. What we become accustomed to should become the focus of our attention. In relationships, the problem is not with familiarity, but more about that to which we’re acclimating.