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Eccentricity (also calledquirkiness) is an unusual or oddbehavior on the part of an individual. This behavior would typically be perceived as unusual or unnecessary, without being demonstrablymaladaptive. Eccentricity is contrasted withnormal behavior, the nearly universal means by which individuals in society solve given problems and pursue certain priorities in everyday life. People who consistently display benignly eccentric behavior are labeled as "eccentrics".
FromMedieval Latineccentricus, derived fromGreekekkentros, "out of the center", fromek-,ex- "out of" +kentron, "center".[1]Eccentric first appeared in English essays as aneologism in 1551, as an astronomical term meaning "a circle in which the earth, sun, etc. deviates from its center." (SeeOrbital eccentricity.) Five years later, in 1556, an adjective form of the word was used. In 1685, the definition evolved from the literal to the figurative, andeccentric is noted to have begun being used to describe unconventional or odd behavior. A noun form of the word – a person who possesses and exhibits these unconventional or odd qualities and behaviors – appeared by 1832.
Eccentricity is often associated withgenius,intellectual giftedness, orcreativity. People may perceive the individual's eccentric behavior as the outward expression of their uniqueintelligence or creative impulse.[2] In this vein, the eccentric'shabits are incomprehensible not because they are illogical or the result of madness, but because they stem from a mind so original that it cannot be conformed tosocietal norms. Englishutilitarian thinkerJohn Stuart Mill (1806–1873) wrote that "the amount of eccentricity in a society has generally been proportional to the amount of genius, mental vigour, and moral courage which it contained",[3][4] and mourned a lack of eccentricity as "the chief danger of the time".[5]Edith Sitwell (1887–1964) wrote that eccentricity is "often a kind of innocent pride", also saying that geniuses and aristocrats are called eccentrics because "they are entirely unafraid of and uninfluenced by the opinions and vagaries of the crowd".[6] Eccentricity is also associated with great wealth — what would be considered signs of insanity in a poor person, some may accept as eccentricity in wealthy people.[7]
A person who is simply in a "fish out of water" situation is not, by the strictest definition, an eccentric since (presumably) they may be ordinary by the conventions of their native environment.[citation needed]
Eccentrics may or may not comprehend the standards for normal behavior in their culture. They are simply unconcerned by society's disapproval of their habits or beliefs.[citation needed]
Some eccentrics are pejoratively considered "cranks" rather than geniuses. Eccentric behavior is often considered whimsical or quirky, although it can also be strange and disturbing. Many individuals previously considered merely eccentric, such asaviationmagnateHoward Hughes, have recently been retrospectively diagnosed as having hadmental disorders (obsessive–compulsive disorder in Hughes' case).[citation needed]
Other people may have an eccentric taste inclothes, or eccentrichobbies or collections they pursue with great vigor. They may have apedantic and precise manner of speaking, intermingled with inventivewordplay. Many of these behaviors share the characteristics of someone with anautistic spectrum disorder, such as the eccentric hobbies or the pedantic speech.[citation needed]
Many individuals may even manifest eccentricities consciously and deliberately in an attempt to differentiate themselves from societal norms or enhance a sense of inimitable identity. Given the overwhelmingly positive stereotypes (at least inpopular culture and especially withfictional characters) often associated with eccentricity, as detailed above, certain individuals seek to be associated with this sort of character type. However, this is not always successful as eccentric individuals are not necessarilycharismatic and the individual in question may simply be dismissed by others as justseeking attention.[citation needed]
PsychologistDavid Weeks believes people with a mental illness suffer from their behavior, while eccentrics are quite happy.[8][9] He even opines that eccentrics areless prone to mental illness than everyone else.
According to Weeks' study, there are several distinctive characteristics that often differentiate a healthy eccentric person from a regular person or someone who has a mental illness. The first five characteristics on Weeks' list are found in most people regarded as eccentric:[8]
Weeks also lists characteristics that some, but not all, eccentric people may exhibit:
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