When someone says the opposite of what they mean?

The verbal form of irony is sarcasm, which is when someone says the opposite of what he or she means or says something out of character, usually to emphasize the absurdity of something or to convey the opposite point.

What do you call a person who says something and does the opposite?

A person saying one thing and doing the opposite is today described as a hypocrite, a word that is now imbued with pejorative connotations.

Why do people do things when they are told not to?

The behavior is purely psychological and is known as reactance, which is a type of mechanism where our brain wants to ensure that we’re free to do whatever it is that we want to do with our own lives.

When you say one thing but mean the exact opposite sarcasm?

Antiphrasis is the rhetorical device of saying the opposite of what is actually meant in such a way that it is obvious what the true intention is. Some authors treat and use antiphrasis just as irony, euphemism or litotes.

What do you do when people do the opposite of what you tell?

It’s maddening when people do the opposite of what we tell them to do. Remind your boss to look at a report, and he puts it off longer. Discourage a friend from taking a job, and she accepts it.

Why do people do what they are explicitly told not to do?

But the primary principle should be the primary explanation for why someone would do what they are explicitly told not to: they are forced to think about doing it. All the answers are good if the person you’re referring to is a healthy but defiant, rebellious child or even adult.

Why do some people refuse to let others dictate what they do?

Could also be that the person in question came from an abusive, strict household which has led them to force themselves to no longer allow other people to dictate to them what they’re going to do. For them it’s about freedom, empowerment and being the master of their own fate.

Why do people rebel against their own choices?

In fact, this angry reaction is one of the reasons why our efforts to reach our goals can fall short or even backfire. When people feel that their choices are restricted, or that others are telling them what to do, they sometimes rebel and do the opposite. Scientists have a term for this: psychological reactance.