Menefreghismo is one of those Italian words that has no direct translation into English but which captures exactly an aspect of Italian life.
Menefreghismo describes a don’t care attitude that disregards the impact of your action on someone else. It reflects a lack of empathy or responsibility.
Coming from the phrase non me ne fregra, meaning I don’t care, a menefreghista is that driver who just stops in front of you, winds down the window and has a long chat with his mate who he has spotted on the other side of the road. Or the person who barges into the front of the queue because they are too important to wait in line. Or the group of people gathered to admire a pram with a new baby, completely blocking the pavement while you struggle passed carrying something heavy and unwieldy.
Maybe it even accounts for the abandon with which some Italians will calmly drop their litter by the side of the road. At times endearing but often very frustrating it is, in my experience compounded if, when the action is pointed out, it is responded to with “tranquillo”, a suggestion that you should calm down as if the problem is entirely yours and your reaction is unnecessary, over the top and possible a little rude.
I’m not saying that this behaviour is exclusively Italian, it’s behaviour I’ve met all over the world, I just admire the Italians for coming up with a word that encapsulates it so perfectly.