18 Traits That Define People Who Always Take and Never Give

Written By Dave Spencer

Relationships are normally a two-way street, a balance between give and take. However, some people in this world don’t understand this dynamic. Here are 18 traits of people who always take and never give.

Self-Centeredness

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People who always take and never give are almost always consumed by their own needs, desires, and ambitions. They put first their own interests and care very little for those of the people around them. This normally leads to them seeking personal gain without considering the impact on those around them.

Narcissism

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Mayo Clinic explains that a person who has an inflated sense of self-importance is referred to as a narcissist. They are constantly in need of admiration and fail to understand the needs of anyone else. Many narcissists are used to taking from people and not giving. Due to this, it’s very unlikely that they are able to have reciprocal relationships.

Lack of Empathy

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Empathy comes from the ability to imagine yourself in another person’s shoes. People who always take and never give, on the other hand, are not able to do this, leading to a lack of connection and a genuine understanding of others.

Lack of Accountability

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Accountability means taking responsibility for what you do, recognizing how it affects others, and making amends for any harm done. However, selfish people who don’t reciprocate often fail to acknowledge or accept the impact of their actions on others.

Manipulative Behavior

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According to Psychology Today, manipulators are experts in the art of deception. Manipulation is a common tactic used by people who put themselves before everyone else. They manipulate others to get what they want or need.

Special Treatment

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People who take without giving believe that they deserve special treatment, privilege, or resources without having to earn them. They expect others to cater to their needs and that the needs of others are secondary.

Lack of Gratitude

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Gratitude requires noticing and valuing others’ kindness toward you. Selfish people often don’t say thanks because they feel entitled to others’ help and end up overlooking their good deeds.

Exploitative Nature

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Exploitation happens when someone uses another person for their own benefit. People who constantly take advantage of others’ kindness often make them feel used and unwilling to help again.

Constant Need for Validation

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Validation is when others acknowledge someone’s feelings or experiences. Selfish individuals often look for approval because they feel insecure, as noted by Psych Central, but they usually don’t provide support to others in return.

Boundary Violations

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Personal boundaries are set by people to protect their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. But people who don’t know how to give often care very little for these boundaries and violate them without much thought for how the other person feels.

Selective Memory

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When someone is only able to remember certain events or details while ‘forgetting’ other key points, it is known as selective memory. This is often used by those who only take; they often remember the points that are convenient to them and not the ones that don’t support their point.

Avoidance of Responsibility

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To be responsible means to be accountable for your own actions and decisions and to accept and understand the consequences that follow. Those who never give are normally unable to accept responsibility and often deflect their behavior and blame the consequences on the people around them.

Inconsistent Behavior

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People who are all take and no give are often not good at maintaining relationships, as they are not able to be consistent. In order to create and maintain healthy and long-lasting relationships, both parties must be consistent, something in which these types of people tend to fall flat.

Taking Advantage of Trust

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Trust is the foundation of any relationship, and people who just take know this and exploit it. They are known to deceive, manipulate, and betray the trust of those around them, which damages their relationships.

Superficial Charm

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Takers and not-givers seem to have a naturally born characteristic of being very superficially charming. They tend to leave a good impression on people through charisma, flattery, or charm. These people use this trait to manipulate those around them in order to get what they want. Once the person doesn’t have anything to offer anymore, the charm offensive stops.

Sense of Entitlement

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Entitled people believe that they deserve special treatment due to past wrongs, says Better help. But the problem is that they want it without having earned it, whereas other people do not deserve such a thing. This results in them having a behavior that reflects their way of thinking, leading to friction in relationships and other people feeling used.

High Expectations of Others

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People who always take but don’t give often have high expectations of those around them but care little for others’ expectations of them. They may demand constant attention, validation, or support from others without offering anything in return.

Resistance to Change

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When these people are confronted with the consequences of their behavior, it is no surprise that they do not handle it well. They will often resist changing their way and may be unwilling to acknowledge the impact that their actions have had, preferring instead to keep following their own explosive behavior.

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