What makes a person inherently ‘good’ or ‘bad’ may be subject to opinion. Still, certain character traits indicate someone is simply rotten on the inside! While these might not be instantly recognizable, some unpleasant behaviors stand out as prominent red flags. Here, we describe 18 worrying signs that someone is a ‘bad person’ and probably best avoided!
Dishonesty
Everyone tells a white lie occasionally, but be cautious of anyone who is chronically dishonest, especially if their lies negatively impact others or unfairly benefit the liar. Dishonest people can use lies to avoid responsibility, manipulate people or situations, or exploit others. Watch out for broken promises, inconsistent stories, blatant excuses, and a blanket lack of remorse!
Lack of Empathy
Psych Central states that people who struggle to understand or share the feelings of others often prioritize their own needs and desires, making them act selfishly and without compassion. They might also call others sensitive or be dismissive of their feelings. Pay attention to how they treat people they consider “beneath them” and how they respond to the misfortunes of others.
Constant Negativity
Yes, we all suffer bad days and genuine challenges, but ‘good’ people aren’t a constant emotional drain on others. Beware of anyone who is excessively critical and pessimistic or has a tendency to complain about everything. While those suffering from depression may need help, some people just like to moan and judge, which can bring others down, too.
Disrespectful Behavior
This one might not be instantly obvious, but there are behaviors to watch out for that signal someone lacks basic respect for others. They might interrupt you, dominate the conversation, be dismissive, use condescending language, or insult you or others. Disrespectful people often disregard boundaries and may be careless with other people’s belongings.
Aggressiveness
There are very few social situations in which excessive anger is understandable. Well-rounded adults cope with anger in a healthy, controlled way and don’t let strong feelings cloud their judgment or cause them to behave abusively or destructively. Pay attention if a person is easily provoked, has a short temper, or uses intimidation tactics to get what they want.
Arrogance
According to PsychoLogs, “Arrogance is an attitude where a person thinks of himself as superior, is confident a lot about their abilities, and treats others as inferiors.” People who are merely confident don’t put others down or focus on themselves, yet arrogant individuals brag about their achievements, ignore the successes or opinions of others, and act like they’re better than everyone else.
Controlling Behavior
No one has the right to try and control or forcefully manipulate others, making such behavior a worrying trait. Anyone who disrespects boundaries or tries to be in charge of anyone else’s life choices or actions is probably not capable of healthy social interactions and may make an overly dominant acquaintance or friend. Watch out for guilt trips, blackmail, and gaslighting.
Abusive Language
Okay, yes, some extreme behaviors can understandably elicit this response, but anyone who constantly puts people down or throws verbal abuse around is not a ‘good’ individual. Not all abusive language is obvious, either—sarcasm, passive aggressiveness, and subtly belittling the opinions of others are all more subtle forms but are equally as damaging and hurtful.
Lack of Accountability
Genuinely respectful and mature people own up to their mistakes and apologize when their actions negatively impact others, so be cautious of anyone who fails to do this. A secretly ‘bad’ person might blame others for their errors, make excuses, or fail to say “sorry” when necessary. This can create a sense of inequality and make them a frustratingly stressful person to deal with!
Financial Dishonesty
It’s a worrying trait if someone is overly secretive about their finances, constantly asks to borrow money, or always expects other people to cover their expenses. Watch out for people who always ‘conveniently’ leave their cash or card at home, ask for short-term loans that they don’t repay, or get defensive when you ask them to pay their fair share or reimburse you.
Cheating
Be wary of individuals who betray their romantic partners or are prepared to do anything to win, even break the rules. The Times of India asserts that cheaters are more likely to engage in unethical professional behavior, like blackmail, lying to get ahead, throwing their colleagues ‘under the bus,’ or blame dodging. They are generally selfish and untrustworthy.
Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy means holding other people to a higher standard than yourself or being judgmental or critical of behaviors that you yourself engage in. Hypocrites are inconsistent and arrogant because they consider themselves ‘above’ their own standards and those of society as a whole. Watch for inconsistencies between what they preach and what they do.
Prejudice
Intolerance towards others based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or other factors may have been socially acceptable 100 years ago, but it wasn’t kind back then and is now completely unacceptable. Anyone who discriminates against others is not a ‘good’ person. They may make insensitive remarks, exclude others, or promote hatred and bigotry.
Remorseless
Feeling sorry for things we’ve done that harm or inconvenience others is a natural human emotion, and a lack of remorse is a serious red flag. Someone who shows no regret or guilt for hurting others, causing emotional pain, or breaking the law is not a ‘good’ person and should be handled with caution. They may lack empathy and compassion, or even be sadistic!
Exploiting Others
People who take advantage of others, especially those who are vulnerable or overly trusting, are always bad people. They may use manipulation tactics to get what they want, exploit someone’s generosity, or use another person’s difficulties for their own benefit. You should avoid anyone who is comfortable doing such things.
Cruelty to Animals and Children
Blatant abuse of children or animals is obviously a red flag, but some ‘bad’ people are far more subtle in their cruelty. Watch out for anyone who doesn’t consider children as members of society, dismisses the needs of animals, or is generally happy to exclude them for their own reasons. Such people often lack compassion and empathy for vulnerable groups.
Bullying
No one likes a bully, and both emotional and physical bullying are big no-nos for a good person. This may manifest as cruel pranks, malicious gossip, hurtful jokes, or even inflicting physical pain, even if they say it’s only harmless fun. Never accept such behavior as normal or acceptable, and don’t associate with bullies or anyone who supports or enables them.
Endangering Others
Verywell Mind warns, “Engaging in behaviors that exploit or disregard others is harmful and needs to be addressed.” This includes coercing others into unnecessarily unsafe, financially risky, or otherwise reckless activities. It highlights either selfish cluelessness or, worse, a desire to deliberately put others in harm’s way and watch what happens next!
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