What is the difference between “honest” and “sincere”? When we communicate we often confuse them

Honesty And sincerity are two concepts that, although often used interchangeably, especially. in common and youthful language, they have different nuances: thehonesty it is associated with justice and righteousness, it is therefore a quality recognized in those who adhere to shared moral principles and the laws of the context in which they live. There sincerityon the other hand, is based on the genuineness of personal feelings and opinions, is linked to the ability to always tell the truth and represents an expression of authenticity. Although both virtues are appreciated, their difference it manifests itself not only in behavior, but also in the way they are perceived and valued in society.

What is honesty

The word honesty comes from Vulgar Latin honestas, -ātis, and refers to virtue of behaving with justice and righteousness. An honest person acts according to precise shared moral and social values, such as loyalty and rectitude; in other words, honesty is an approach to life that tends towards transparency and justice. In social psychology, honesty is seen as a quality that stimulates trust and cooperation between individuals and groups, a social glue. Durkheim’s studies, for example, proposed that moral virtues such as honesty are fundamental to social cohesion, since being honest means promoting a certain model of moral integrity.

What is sincerity

Sincerity, from Latin sincerĭtas, -ātis (i.e. the property of being “pure”, “intact”), means be open and authentic about your thoughts and feelings. Those who are sincere always tend to express their personal truth and therefore their self, eschewing fiction.

In the psychosocial field, sincerity is considered one dimension of authenticity. For Rogers, for example, being sincere is an essential sign of openness both for one’s personal growth and for establishing authentic relationships. However, we find that sincerity can also lead to conflict (which however is not something negative in itself), since we are not always able to accept other people’s “truths” well or manage them.

Comparison and differences between honesty and sincerity

Unlike honesty, which is often about an imposition of morality, sincerity is more about respecting one’s emotional state and perceptions. According to Baumeister’s studies, sincerity implies overcoming social pressure which could encourage the individual to avoid uncomfortable truths and therefore to go against social conformism.

The distinction between honesty and sincerity also emerges in the anthropological field: while thehonesty it’s one socially established virtue, linked to compliance with the regulations, the sincerity may appear more individualisticsince it has more to do with the perceived personal. Sincerity, therefore, is a virtue connected to personal authenticity and, consequently, distances itself from social conformism.