41. Behavior

See also 28. ATTITUDES ; 279. MOODS ; 334. PSYCHOLOGY .

aberrance, aberrancy

the condition or state of being deviant or aberrant.

abnormalism

1. having a tendency towards, or being in a state of abnormality.

2. something that is abnormal.

abnormalist

a person who is characterized as being in some way abnormal.

adventurism

impulsive, rash, or irresponsible actions or attitudes, especially in the sphere of public life. — adventurist, n . — adventuristic, adj.

alarmism

the attitudes and behavior of one who exaggerates dangers or always expects disaster. — alarmist , n .

alogy

Obsolete, illogicality, unreasonableness. — alogic, alogical, adj.

amazonism

the taking on of masculine habits and occupations by women.

Arcadianism

the dress and conduct suitable to a pastoral existence, usually with reference to the idealized description of pastoral life in literature. — Arcadian, n., adj.

arrivism

1. the state of having recently achieved wealth or position, especially by unscrupulous or unethical means.

2. behavior typical of arrivism. — arriviste, n., adj.

asceticism

a severe self-deprivation for ethical, religious, or intellectual ends. — ascetic, n., adj.

atrabilarian

1. a sad and gloomy individual.

2. an irritable and bad-tempered person. — atrabilious, adj.

attitudinarianism

the practice of striking poses, either to mask or to express personal feelings. — attitudinarian, n.

attorneyism

the characteristics attributed to attorneys; slyness; unscrupulousness.

automatism

an automatic or involuntary action. — automatist, n.

autophoby

Rare. an abnormal fear of being egotistical, of referring to oneself.

babuism, babooism

Derogatory. the practices of Hindus who had only a slight English education. From bābū, a Hindi title equivalent to Sir or Mr.

Barnumism

showmanship or any activity taking advantage of people’s credulity or desire for sensational entertainment, as practiced by P.T. Barnum (1810-91).

bashawism

the characteristics of a bashaw, especially tyranny and imperiousness.

beatnikism

attitudes or behavior typical of a beatnik or one who has rejected conventions of society.

bestiality

a debased brutality, the opposite of humane activity: “I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial.” (Othello). See also 364. SEX .

bizarrerie

strangeness or grotesqueness, especially strange or unconventional behavior.

blackguardism

behavior typical of a blackguard, characterized by use of obscene language and by roguish actions. — blackguardery, n. — blackguardly, adj.

bohemianism

the practice of individualistic, unconventional, and relaxed conduct, of ten in an artistic context, expressing disregard for or opposition to ordinary conventions. — bohemian, n., adj.

boobyism

conduct characteristic of a stupid person or clown. — boobyish, adj.

braggartism

a braggart’s usual activity; bragging. — braggartist, braggart, n.

brutalitarianism

the practice of advocating or engaging in brutality. — brutalitarian, adj.

brutism

the set of attributes that characterize a brute. — brutish, adj.

bullyism

the actions of a bully.

careerism

the characteristics associated with one who advances his career even at the expense of his pride and dignity. — careerist, n.

ceremonialism

an addiction to ceremonies or ritualism, especially in social and other nonreligious contexts. — ceremonialist, n.

characterology

the study of character, especially its development and its variations. — characterologist, n. — characterologic, characterological, adj.

charlatanism

the quality of having characteristics of a fraud. — charlatanic, adj.

consuetude

a habit or custom; usual behavior.

coxcombry

foolish conceit or vanity; behavior typical of a coxcomb.

daredevilism

reckless or foolhardy behavior. Also called daredeviltry . — daredevil, n.

debacchation

Obsolete, raving or maniacal behavior, as that of a bacchanal.

decorum

proper behavior; action that is seemly and in good taste. — decorous, adj.

die-hardism

the attitudes or behavior of one who stubbornly holds on to something, as an outdated view, untenable position, etc. — die-hard, n., adj.

dilettantism

an admiration of or interest in the arts, often used pejoratively to designate a shallow, undisciplined, or frivolous attraction. — dilettante, n., adj. — dilettantish, adj.

donkeyism

1. an action characterized as being donkeylike; foolishness.

2. the characteristic of being like a donkey. — donkeyish, adj.

do-nothingism

idleness or indolence as a habit or regular practice.

dowdyism

the habit of being shabbily dressed. — dowdyish, adj.

dramaticism

the habit of performing actions in a histrionic manner.

ergoism

a pedantic adherence to logically constructed rules.

erraticism

an action or behavior that deviates from the norm; unpredictability in behavior.

exhibitionism

1. a deliberately conspicuous or exaggerated mode of behavior, intended to gain attention.

2. the abnormal practice of indecent exposure. — exhibitionist, n. — exhibitionistic, adj.

faineance, faineancy

laziness; the state of being idle. — faineant, adj.

fairyism

the quality of being a fairy or having fairylike characteristics.

fanfaronade

swaggering boastfulness; vainglorious speech or behavior. — fanfaron, n.

faustianism

spiritual or intellectual dissatisfaction combined with a desire for power or material advantage. After Johann Faust (c.1480-c.1538), German scholar portrayed by Marlowe and Goethe. — faustian, adj.

fiendism

Rare. evil attitudes and actions.

flunkyism, flunkeyism

1. the quality or state of being a servant or toady.

2. behavior typical of flunkyism. — flunky, flunkey, n.

formularism

the condition of adhering solely to set formulas. — formularistic, adj.

fossilism

behavior typical of an earlier time; old-fashioned or stuffy attitudes; fogyism.

fraternalism

the condition of having brotherly qualities. — fraternalist, n. — fraternalistic, adj.

functionarism

the administrative duties of officials. — functionary, n., adj.

gangsterism

the habit of using organized violence to achieve one’s ends. — gangster, n.

gasconism

boastful or bragging behavior. Also gasconadc .

gelastic

1. inclined to laughter.

2. laugh-provoking in conduct or speech.

gnathonism

the extremely obsequious behavior of a sycophant. — gnathonic, adj.

gourmandism, gormandism

1. a strong penchant for good food; gourmetism; epicurism.

2. gluttony. — gourmand, gormand, n., adj.

grandeeism

attitudes and actions modeled on the grandees, Iberian nobles of the highest rank.

gypsyism, gipsyism

the activities and style of living attributed to gypsies. — gypsy, gipsy, n. — gypsyish, gipsyish, adj.

harlequinade

a performance involving Harlequin or other characters of the Commedia dell’Arte; hence, buffoonery or clownish behavior. Also harlequinery.

hermitism

the practice of retiring from society and living in solitude, based upon a variety of motives, including religious. Also called hermitry, hermitship. — hermitic, hermitical, adj.

histriconism

histrionicism.

histrionicism

a tendency to theatrical or exaggerated action. Also histriconism. — histrionics, n. — histrionic, adj.

hoboism

the state of being a hobo or vagrant.

holidayism

a dedication to taking holidays.

hooliganism

lawless behavior or conduct typical of a hooligan.

horsyism, horseyism

looking or acting in some way like a horse. — horsy, horsey, adj. — horsily, adv.

Hottentotism

any behavior attributed to the Hottentots, in particular, a kind of stammering or stuttering.

hoydenism

ill-bred, boisterous, or tomboyish behavior in a woman. — hoyden, n. , — hoydenish, adj.

humbuggery

1. pretentious behavior or attitudes.

2. imposing or deceptive behavior. — humbug, humbugger, n.

humoralism, humouralism

an obsolete physiological explanation of health, disease, and behavior, asserting that the relative proportions of four elemental bodily fluids or humors (blood-sanguinity, phlegm-sluggishness, black bile-melancholy, and yellow bile-choler) determined a person’s physical and mental constitution. — humoral, humoural, adj.

hyphenism

division of patriotic loyalties, ascribed by some to foreign-born citizens in the United States.

idiocrasy

an idiosyncrasy or personal mannerism or peculiarity.

idiosyncrasy

a mannerism, action, or form of behavior peculiar to one person or group. — idiosyncratic, idiosyncratical, adj.

impudicity

lack of shame or modesty.

indecorum

1. indecorous, improper, or unseemly behavior.

2. an indecorous thing or action.

Indianism

the customs or traditions of Indians, especially American Indians. — Indianist, n.

insurrectionism

the quality of revolting against established authority. — insurrectionist, n., adj. — insurrectionary, adj.

irascibility

a tendency to irritability and sudden fits of anger. Also called irascibleness . — irascible, adj.

Johnsonianism

the quality of having traits or characteristics like those of Samuel Johnson. — Johnsonian, n., adj.

juvenilism, juvenility

Often pejorative. a mode of action or thought characterized by apparent youthfulness. — juvenile, n. , adj.

landlordism

the actions and characteristics of a landlord. — landlordly, adj.

larkinism

frolicsomeness.

larrikinism

the state of being noisy, rowdy, or disorderly. — larrikin, adj., n.

libertinism

a tendency to unrestrained, often licentious or dissolute conduct. Also libertinage . — libertine, n., adj.

lionism

the pursuit or adulation of celebrities. — lionize, v.

litigiousness

1. an inclination to dispute or disagree with others, esp. through civil suits.

2. argumentativeness. — litigious, adj.

Londonism

the customs and characteristics of London and of those who reside there. — Londonish, adj.

macaronism, maccaronism

a tendency to foppishness. — macaroni, maccaroni, n.

maenadism

behavior characteristic of a maenad or bacchante; raging or wild behavior in a woman. — maenadic, adj.

maidism

1. the state or quality of being a maid, a young or unmarried woman.

2 . behavior or attitude typical of maidism.

mannerism

a style of action, bearing, thought, or speech peculiar to an individual or a special group. See also 23. ART . — mannerist , n. — manneristic, adj.

martinetism

an emphasis on scrupulous attention to the details of methods and procedures in all areas of life. — martinet, n. — martinetish, adj.

maudlinism

Rare.

1. a tendency in temperament to be mawkishly sentimental and tearfully emotional.

2. a degree of drunkenness characterized by mawkish emotionalism. — maudlin, adj.

melodramatics

behavior typical of that portrayed in a melodrama, i.e., characterized by extremes of emotion.

mercuriality

1. the state or quality of having a lively, fickle, volatile, or erratic attitude or charaeter.

2 . an instance of such behavior. — mercurial, adj.

milksopism

1. the state or quality of being a weak and ineffectual person.

2 . behavior or attitudes typical of a such a person.

mimicism

an intense (and sometimes injurious) tendency to mimicry.

mountebankism

boastful and pretentious behavior; quackery or any actions typical of a mountebank. Also mountebankery .

muckerism

behavior characteristic of a boorish person.

mutualism

the principle or practice of mutual dependence as the condition of individual and social welfare. — mutualist, n.

namby-pambyism

weak or insipid behavior or attitude. — namby-pamby, n., adj.

Negroism

a quality or trait distinctive of Negroes.

ninnyism

conduct characteristic of a ninny, or silly fool. — ninnyish, adj.

nomadism

a rootless, nondomestic, and roving lifestyle. — nomadic, adj.

nudism

the practice of going nude. — nudist, n., adj.

Occidentalism

the characteristics and customs of people situated in western regions, especially the Western Hemisphere, as western European countries and the United States. — Occidentalist, n.

ogreism

the condition of resembling an ogre in actions and characteristics. — ogreish, adj.

opportunism

the conscious policy and practice of taking selfish advantage of circumstances, with little regard for principles. — opportunist, n. — opportunistic, adj.

Orientalism

the habits, qualities, and customs of Oriental peoples. — Orientalist, Orientality, n.

parrotism

mindless imitation. Also called parrotry .

particularism

the adherence to an exclusive subject, interest, or topic. — particularist, n. — particularistic, adj.

parvenuism

1. behavior or attitudes typical of one who has recently acquired wealth or social position.

2 . the state or quality of being a parvenu or upstart. — parvenu, n., adj.

patricianism

1 . the state of being a member of one of the original citizen families of ancient Rome.

2 . the state of being noble or high born. — patriciate, n.

plebeianism

the quality of having common manners, character, or style. — plebeian, n., adj.

pococurantism

a tendency to conduct expressing indifference, nonchalance, or lack of concern. — pococurante, pococurantist, n. — pococurante, adj.

poltroonism

the characteristics associated with being a coward or wretch. Also called poltroonery . — poltroonish, adj.

polypragmatism

a penchant for meddlesomeness and officiousness. Also polypragmacy, polypragmaty . — polypragmatist, n. — polypragmatic, adj.

pornerast

one whose conduct is unchaste, licentious, or lewd.

praxeology, praxiology

the study of human behavior and conduct. — praxeological, adj.

preciosity

excessive fastidiousness or over-refinement in language or behavior.

precipitancy

hasty or rash action, behavior, etc.; undue or ill-considered haste. — precipitant, adj.

priggism

the strict adherence to correctness of behavior. — prigger, n. — priggish, adj.

profligacy

1 . dissolute or immoral behavior.

2. reckless and extravagant spending or behavior. — profligate , adj.

protagonism

the actions and qualities of a protagonist. — protagonist , n.

protervity

a tendency to peevish, petulant, or insolent conduct.

psychagogics, psychagogy

a method of affecting behavior by assisting in the choice of desirable life goals. — psychagogue , n.

puppyism

affected or impertinent behavior; conceit.

quixotism

a tendency to absurdly chivalric, visionary, or romantically impractical conduct. — quixotic, quixotical, adj.

rabulism

Rare. a tendency to railing and quibbling. — rabulistic, rabulous, adj.

reactionism

the condition of being reactionary or resistant to change. — reactionist , n., adj.

reporterism

the characteristics of a reporter.

reunionism

the qualities of a reunion or social gathering. — reunionist , n.

revolutionism

the state of being revolutionary. — revolutionary, revolutionist, n. — revolutional, revolutionary, adj.

routinism

the excessive adherence to a routine. — routinist , n.

rowdyism

noisy, quarrelsome, or disorderly conduct or behavior. — rowdy , n., adj.

ruffianism

behavior typical or characteristic of a brutal and violent person. — ruffian , n.

Satanism

diabolical behavior. — Satanist , n.

savagism

the condition of having uncivilized or primitive qualities. — savagedom , n.

schoolboyism

the practices characteristic of a schoolboy. — schoolboyish , adj.

scoundrelism

the characteristics and behavior of a scoundrel. — scoundrelly , adj.

seclusionist

a person who seeks solitude or removes himself from the society of others; a recluse.

sensorialism

the quality of having sensation. — sensorial . adj.

seraphism

Archaic. an ecstatic devotion, especially religious.

sermonist

1 . a person who delivers sermons.

2 . a person who adopts a preaching attitude.

Shandyism

a tendency to whimsical conduct in accord with absurd theories from past ages. [Allusion to the actions of Walter, father of the hero in Sterne’s Tristram Shandy. ]

spasmodism

a tendency to conduct marked by outbursts of strong emotion. — spasmodist , n. — spasmodic, spasmodical, adj.

Sundayism

activity characteristic of the observance of Sunday as a holy day.

supermanism

the condition of having qualities or traits like those of a superman. — supermanly , adj.

sybaritism

a love of luxury. [Allusion to Sybaris, a Greek colony in Italy not-ed for its luxury.] — sybarite, n . — sybaritic , adj.

sycophantism

the practice of self-serving or servile flattery. Also called sycophancy . — sycophant , n. — sycophantic , adj.

sympathism

the condition of having coinciding emotions in two or more people.

tantalism

Obsolete . a form of teasing or harassment in which a hope of some good or benefit is instilled in the victim, only to be repeatedly dashed and the reward shown to be unattainable.

tartufflsm

hypocrisy. [Allusion to Molière’s hypocritical hero, Tartuffe.] Also called tartuffery.

theatricalism

a tendency to actions marked by exaggerations in speech or behavior. Also called theatricism.

tidyism

the habit of extreme neatness.

Timonism

a personal despair leading to misanthropy. [Allusion to Shake-speare’s Timon of Athens. ]

toadyism

a fawning flattery, obsequiousness, or sycophancy. — toady , n. — toadyish , adj,

tokenism

formal or superficial compliance with a law, requirement, convention, etc.

tomboyism

the conduct characteristic of a tomboy, a boyish girl. — tomboyish , adj.

Turcism, Turkism

Obsolete, the attitudes and actions of the Turks.

ultracrepidarianism

the habit of giving opinions and advice on matters outside of one’s knowledge or competence. — ultracrepidarian , n., adj.

vagabondism

1 . the tendency to wander from place to place without a settled home; nomadism.

2 . the life of a tramp; vagrancy. Also called vagabondage. — vagabond , n., adj.

vandalism

the malicious destruction or defamation of public or private property. — vandal, vandalization, n. — vandalish , adj.

vanguardism

the actions or thoughts of members of a vanguard, those at the forefront of a movement, fad, etc. — vanguardist , n.

Victorianism

the affection for or emulation of Victorian tastes or thoughts.

Vikingism

the actions characteristic of a Viking, i.e., savagery, rapaciousness, etc.

voyeurism

the compulsion to seek sexual gratification by secretively looking at sexual objects or acts; the actions of a Peeping Tom. — voyeur , n. — voyeuristic , adj.

vulpinism

Rare. the state or quality of being foxlike, especially crafty or cunning. — vulpine , adj.

vulturism

behavior or character typical of a vulture, especially in the figurative sense of being rapacious. — vulturous , adj.

werewolfism

the quality of having the traits of a werewolf.

Yahooism

a penchant for rowdyism. [Allusion to Swift’s characters in Gulliver’s Travels. ]

yokelism

1 . the state or quality of being a yokel or country bumpkin.

2 . behavior, language, etc, typical of a yokel.

zanyism

the style of a zany or buffoon.

zealotism, zealotry

a tendency to undue or excessive zeal; fanaticism.

zelotypia

Obsolete.

1. abnormal zeal.

2 . morbid jealousy. — zelotypic , adj.