17 Common Behaviors That Will Cause People to Lose Respect for You

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By Jonathan Trent

Getting along with other people makes our lives easier and paves the way for cementing long-lasting relationships. However, some behaviors can drive other people away without us noticing. Here are 17 common behaviors that will cause people to lose respect for you.

Constantly Interrupting Others

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When we have a conversation with someone, we expect them to listen intently, and interrupting someone can be seen as rude. Psychology Today suggests that interrupting others frequently can be detrimental to relationships because by not allowing others to express their thoughts, they may feel unheard.

Disregarding Personal Boundaries

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We all expect others to respect our personal space, so if you frequently overstep boundaries or invade someone’s personal space, you could risk losing their respect. Many people could be offended by your lack of awareness of their boundaries and may start to distance themselves from you.

Talking Behind Others’ Backs

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While it’s healthy to talk about various topics, such as the weather and upcoming events, gossiping excessively and in a nasty way about other people is nothing but negative. Engaging in such negative talk behind someone’s back can completely undermine trust and result in people losing respect for you.

Being Inconsiderate of Others’ Feelings

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Being respectful towards other people entails taking their feelings into consideration. If you downplay other people’s emotions and make jokes at their expense, they could, understandably, lose respect for you. Insensitive remarks and jabs directed at others will not be received well, especially if they trust you enough to confide in you.

Being Dishonest or Deceptive

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Healthy relationships are founded on honesty, so if you lie to others, it can break trust. The Guardian explains that this remains the case even with global elites; it doesn’t matter what your status is, dishonesty erodes trust, and if you lie a lot, people may begin to view you as unworthy of respect.

Not Taking Responsibility for Actions

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Evading responsibility and blaming other people for your mistakes can be detrimental to your personal relationships and your reputation. A respectful person is someone who owns up to their behavior and takes accountability for their actions instead of shifting the blame to other people.

Lack of Empathy or Compassion

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Empathy plays a vital role in relationships as it builds a bridge of understanding between two people. Therefore, if you show indifference towards others’ struggles, you are presenting yourself as a person who only serves their own interests. People do not tend to respect those who prioritize their own interests over others’ well-being.

Being Rude or Disrespectful

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Everyone has moments where they may be irritable, but if you’re consistently rude or disrespectful, you will find yourself in many people’s bad books. Treating people as if they are lower than you and using offensive language can quickly give you a bad reputation and urge people to avoid hanging out with you.

Always Being Late or Unreliable

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The BBC reports on the importance of punctuality, as respecting other people’s time is always a considerate trait. No one wants to meet up with someone who is always late, as it shows a blatant disregard for other people. They’ll begin to see you as untrustworthy-serving, so why should they respect you?

Refusing to Listen to Others’ Perspectives

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Being narrow-minded is a sure way of losing other people’s respect. If you are determined that your views are the best and you regularly dismiss other people’s viewpoints without consideration, people may begin to paint you as close-minded or stubborn. As a result, they will refrain from engaging in conversations with you.

Being Judgmental or Critical

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While helpful advice or constructive criticism can be useful for other people, harsh, unsolicited advice is disrespectful. This also extends to making critical judgments about others’ choices or lifestyles. The victims of your criticism may associate you with negativity and want to avoid you at all costs.

Neglecting Personal Hygiene or Appearance

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It may sound strange, but taking pride in your appearance and implementing hygienic practices can earn you respect in society. As our physical appearance reflects our lifestyle, ignoring basic grooming habits can paint you in a bad light. This also extends to dressing inappropriately for social or professional settings.

Being Self-Centered or Narcissistic

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Most healthy friendships and relationships are based on mutual understanding and respect. If you always put your needs above others’ and exhibit a disregard for their well-being, they’ll quickly realize that you are self-centered. Seeking constant validation or attention can also create an uncomfortable atmosphere where people feel uneasy.

Bragging Excessively

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Respect and humility go hand in hand, so bragging excessively about your accomplishments, achievements, or possessions comes across as rude. People may start to lose respect for you if they start to feel like you’re gloating. TheConversation also highlights how such overconfidence can come across as dismissive of others’ contributions–don’t be that person.

Refusing to Apologize or Make Amends

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An apology is often necessary when you are at fault and want to remedy the situation. However, those people who avoid apologizing, even in circumstances when they are wrong, will naturally attract criticism from others. This is because they invalidate the emotions of others and are not accountable–no one is going to respect that.

Flaking Out on Plans or Commitments

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When people make an arrangement, it’s respectful to see it through. If you frequently cancel plans, especially at the last minute, with no valid reason, it is perceived as lousy or disrespectful. It shows a complete disregard for other people’s time and schedules, which could make people see you in a negative light.

Constantly Seeking Validation or Approval

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Finally, if you constantly seek validation, people will quickly lose respect for you. Conversations dominated by someone seeking validation or reassurance are unpleasant and uncomfortable for other people. Worse still, if you make a habit of this, people will think you’re unable to stay true to yourself, so your value could diminish in the eyes of others.

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