This is often true in abusive relationships, where the person who is abusive might accuse the survivor of goading them or doing something to warrant the abuse. They may find a way to shift the blame to you or try to defend their offensive behavior. They may not take responsibility for their own actions or feel the need to apologize. People with toxic traits can sometimes refuse to admit when they’ve said or done something wrong. However, your compassion goes unappreciated and unreciprocated, with the person downplaying or entirely ignoring your problems. If there’s no real problem, they might manufacture one just to elicit sympathy and support. But an unwarranted, consistent victim mentality is common in people who crave your pity and attention. It often takes a while to identify this as a sign of toxicity, since your instinct might be to empathize with someone expressing their problems. They may rarely self-reflect on their own behavior, but eagerly wait for a chance to criticize others. They may judge your looks, actions, and decisions, regardless of how much it hurts you. This may be done to make them feel better about themselves, to get more attention, or other reasons. People who display toxic behaviors might be doing it to try to bring others down. They might lie to you or overreact to a situation if it’s in their best interest.
Lying and dramatizingĭishonesty is a core characteristic of many people with toxic behaviors. So, what do these traits look like in real life? They can take on many forms, but here are some common ones. This may be because they’re able to portray themselves as hard workers, manipulate and exploit others, or cheat their way into getting what they want. Research suggests that even though they’re not actually better at their jobs, employees with toxic traits might be more likely to receive higher salaries and be promoted into leadership positions. We’ve all seen it: a cruel, self-centered, and manipulative person gaining success professionally and financially. This likely isn’t a root cause of toxic behavior, but it could be one reason why it perpetuates.
Negative human traits professional#
In these cases, treatment from a mental health professional may be the best option. Symptoms like sudden bursts of anger, need for praise, irritability, and grandiosity may indicate a mental health condition. Not all people with these traits have mental health conditions, but for some, conditions like personality disorders, bipolar disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be the underlying cause of their behavior. A person’s inability to process stress and grief can sometimes transform into toxicity towards others. On the other hand, some people with toxic traits may behave poorly because of past trauma, a dysfunctional family life, or substance use. One study found that being overprotected, pampered, or praised excessively in childhood can be associated with more narcissistic personality traits and feelings of entitlement. Environmental factors can play a role, too. Nurtureīut it’s not just genes that contribute to personality. So, people with parents who have toxic traits may be more likely to have those characteristics, too. Other studies have shown that personality traits overall are moderately heritable. Research suggests that these negative traits are at least partially genetic, passed from parent to child. The so-called Dark Triad of personality refers to three categories of humans’ worst traits - narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy - that some people may exhibit. There are many factors that can cause toxic behavior.
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