Many modern personality psychologists put stock in what they call the “Big 5” personality qualities, which capture the essence of who we are (rigid or soft).
Extraversion (sometimes called extroversion), agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism are a person’s personality characteristics.
The traits of extraversion are sociability, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and thoughtfulness, while a predisposition toward depression or erratic mood swings characterizes neuroticism.
Without taking a test to determine your personality type, you can learn more about yourself by familiarizing yourself with the characteristics that make up each personality attribute and what it means to have a high or low score.
It can also serve as a tool for gaining insight into other people by showing where they land on the spectrum of the personality above traits.
A rigid person’s character traits are consistent with the word’s meaning: they are unyielding and uncompromising.
They have difficulty empathizing with others and acknowledging their thoughts, feelings, and experiences that differ from their own.
Life may be incredibly challenging when dealing with stubborn individuals.
Here are some telltale symptoms of a person with a strict personality and some suggestions for dealing with such an individual.
1.  OCD
People who suspect they have OCD are usually wrong.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a more severe form of obsessive disorder.
Most of the time, this results from extreme anxiety and the need to exert some degree of command over the environment.
A stiff individual may suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder, leading to a narrow focus on one or a few aspects of life.
This could take the form of strict adherence to established protocols, rigid adherence to established methods, or an obsession with attaining absolute perfection.
Disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) originate in the need to control one’s environment.
As a result, their personalities are highly set in stone, and they cannot stand any changes to their daily routine.
If you’re close to someone exhibiting this behavior, you’ll have a better idea of handling the situation.
The closer you are, the more likely you will be able to help pinpoint the specific source of worry in this way of behaving.
A person with severe OCD should get therapy in order to learn to live with and eventually overcome their illness.
If the issue is not particularly serious, it is best to stay within their boundaries to prevent any unneeded friction.
If that’s not an option, they should be reminded to take frequent pauses to prevent burnout and the return of challenging strict behavior.
2.  Accusatory Behavior
Individuals with a rigid personality type are limited in their ability to think creatively.
Whenever something terrible occurs, someone is usually always to blame.
Know that it is never yourself.
If someone cannot take responsibility when it is due and is instead constantly looking for a scapegoat, they can be tough to get along with.
In order to alter a profoundly ingrained mindset, one must release the stress that is fueling it.
Arguing directly is unlikely to resolve the dispute if you confront someone continually attempting to cast blame.
Tell them to relax for a second and maybe go for a stroll.
Taking a step back and giving yourself time to think could help them overcome your conviction that someone must be punished.
Although arguing with someone with a fixed mindset can be challenging, reducing their anxiety can help keep the situation under control.
3.  Expectations That Are Too High
It’s not just challenging for people close to someone to live with a strict personality.
They may have set unrealistic criteria and expectations for achievements or outcomes.
They will likely react with irrational anger and disappointment if their expectations are not satisfied.
When dealing with someone with a high degree of rigidity in their personality, it’s best to maintain a level head and manage expectations reasonably.
It will take some serious thought and work to change their minds about whatever they may have been told that they now believe to be true.
Talk about the good and terrible things that could happen due to your actions.
Understanding that the situation could have been a lot worse, but was ultimately spared, can provide some perspective and help keep things from being worse than they need to get.
4.  Justifying Calling a Black a White
Once a person with a rigid personality has made up their mind about anything, no amount of evidence to the contrary will convince them or them to change their mind.
Someone with a stiff personality will not change their mind no matter how the facts are presented.
The desire for mental closure underlies this kind of rigorous conduct.
By attempting to rule out any possible variables, they have arrived at a conclusion that can’t be contested.
A lot of work is required on both sides if you want to alter the mind of someone with a fixed mindset.
If a person’s mind is made up of something, it takes a lot of strength to change their mind.
Take it easy.
Limited tolerance for uncertainty is commonly associated with a rigid personality.
Try to understand their position and suggest potential solutions rather than absolute answers.
Instead of a flat-out denial, their thinking will be able to adjust gradually.
5.  An Unnecessary Argument
People who struggle with inflexible personality traits may not realize that others have alternative perspectives.
They might be certain that their viewpoint is correct and feel the need to force it on others.
The situation can be frustrating for both parties involved, especially if one party feels passionate about the need to get their point through.
Even if they disagree, the other person may feel like they’re being hammered with arguments they don’t want to hear.
Rephrasing what they are saying in your own terms is one strategy for handling this uncomfortable conversation.
They can take a step back and have their argument explained back to them, which may help them see it in a new light.
Don’t raise your voice; doing so will make things worse.
If you are unsure if you have grasped their meaning, try repeating it back to them in your own words but with a different emphasis.
This can assist in supplying some much-needed context and gently but effectively show just how ridiculous the argument must have seemed.
