Five Characteristics Of A Fake Person — What To Watch Out For
The quality of individuals you surround yourself with will undoubtedly impact your life. For better or worse, those you choose to be around will impact you; they can be positive, genuine, and uplifting, or they can be negative, fake, and depressing. Unfortunately, people do not always show their true colors during initial interactions. Still, certain signs and characteristics will let you know what type of individual you’re dealing with over time.
Being able to spot the characteristics and signs of a fake person will save you a lot of time and energy. Life is far too short and precious to waste your energy on fake people who are insincere. It’s helpful to watch out for certain things, but you have to know precisely what those things are. Knowing the following characteristics of a fake person can certainly come in handy throughout your life.
Characteristics to watch out for in a fake person
Pathological Lying Fake individuals know that they’re disingenuous. For whatever reason, they’ve also decided that moving throughout the world in this manner is their best course of action. Eventually, their behaviors and treatment of others will often come back to bite them.
Many people have been known to tell a fib or a white lie on occasion. However, someone who is truly fake will engage in pathological lying. In many cases, fake individuals feel compelled to keep up a facade, which leads them to be dishonest, even when it’s pointless. As you can imagine, pathological liars are not to be trusted; they’ll say and do just about anything that they view as suitable to their interests.
If you’re around someone whose stories regularly don’t add up, be on guard. Frequent inconsistencies don’t just materialize out of nowhere. Fake people typically aren’t concerned with transparency or openness, especially if they have something to hide. In the long run, individuals of this nature tend to present different personas, depending on which settings or situations they’re in. Don’t turn your back on someone who lies pathologically.
Gossiping
Taking note of how someone else talks about others in their life is imperative; it’s also a very clear indicator of how they’ll speak of you when you’re not around. If someone is willing to gossip with you, they’re also likely to gossip about you. Fake people tend to behave amicably in someone’s presence and then badmouth them in their absence. Fake people have no problem with this two-faced nature because they’re not genuine.
When someone is a real friend, they don’t gossip about people behind their backs. If you know a person who constantly has negative things to say about others who aren’t around, watch out for that. You can bank on getting the same treatment the moment you’re out of earshot.
Arrogance
In certain cases, arrogant actions and attitudes may cover up insecurities that a fake person suffers from. This is very common in narcissistic individuals. Genuine people take the thoughts and feelings of others into account; fake individuals see no need in doing this if it doesn’t present an immediate benefit. Fake people tend to view themselves as above others; when you think about it, this explains why they don’t believe honesty or loyalty to others is important. Disingenuous individuals generally behave in problematic ways while expecting others to swallow and deal with it.
Irresponsibility
Part of being a genuine, caring person means taking responsibility for one’s actions and behaviors. As such, a fake person sees no reason to do this. If a fake person makes a mistake, they’ll point the finger at someone else or blame external circumstances rather than themselves. Habitual irresponsibility from fake people manifests because individuals of this nature don’t see the need to own up to their flaws.
Irresponsible, fake people may find ways to flip the tables and blame others for their own mistakes. Let’s say that you agreed to meet a friend at a coffee shop, but they never show up. The next day, you call them to find out what happened, only for them to get angry with you for pestering them. This is a prime example of a fake person who is also completely irresponsible for their behavior. A responsible person with pure intentions would have either called ahead or explained they wouldn’t make the meeting. If that weren’t possible, for whatever reason, they certainly wouldn’t get angry with you for seeking an explanation.
Manipulation
Unfortunately, the true nature of manipulative, fake individuals doesn’t always present itself. Fake individuals have absolutely no qualms about manipulating other people around them. In many ways, this goes hand-in-hand with pathological lying for the sake of pushing one’s agenda. Fake people manipulate others because they don’t mind getting what they want at someone else’s expense. Taking note of how someone interacts and deals with others over extended periods can reveal they are true to nature. Unfortunately, some of the best manipulators are good at pulling the wool over people’s eyes, but the truth always surfaces in one way or another.
Steering clear of fake people
As you can imagine from the listed characteristics, fake people do not make great friends or associates. Sadly, individuals of this nature can present themselves in various areas of life. If you cannot immediately cut ties with a fake person, making interactions as minimal as possible is best. This will not only minimize the damage that a fake person can do in your life, but it also benefits your mental health and wellness.
Trusting your intuition
If you happen to get an odd feeling about someone new or a person in general, it’s good to trust this feeling and act accordingly. Fake people don’t often reveal their true colors outright. However, we can pick up on warning signs and red flags.
Trusting your gut feelings and instincts will greatly impact your interactions with others. It will also reduce your likelihood of being negatively affected by someone with their agenda and zero regard for you as an individual.
Surround yourself with genuine people
Spending your time with genuine and upfront people is one of the best steps you can take. You should trust the people in your inner circle and know that they have your best interests at heart. A great inner circle has been proven to help cut back on stress and get through tough times in life.
Surrounding yourself with genuine people comes with the added benefit of sniffing out someone who is potentially fake. Sometimes, your loved ones may be able to pick up something you may miss about a person.
The merits of professional feedback
In this type of situation, seeking out the services of a professional counselor or therapist can be a good idea. Mental health professionals not only provide personalized guidance but also specialize in working with and studying people. This means that the therapist can listen to your descriptions of individuals in your life and provide credible feedback. If you believe that someone you know or trust is, in fact, a fake person, this can be a bitter pill to swallow. If you have your suspicions yet aren’t particularly sure about whether to pass judgment, this can be confusing and leave you uncertain of what your next move should be.
Therapy has changed countless lives and is available to you, whether you’re dealing with a fake person or working to overcome a totally different matter in your life. If you’re ready to take the next step and rise above obstacles in your life, then you’ll want to sign up for online therapy with Regain.
Online therapy ensures your ability to get personalized guidance without having to uproot your schedule or make it to an office every week. No matter who you are, where you are, or what you may be up against, Regain’s online therapists will work with you. Online therapy has been repeatedly proven to offer comparable levels of care as in-person therapy. We want you to know that while life may throw challenges your way, help is available. With the proper support, dedication, and determination, you can turn tough times into opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How do you tell if someone is pretending to like you?
The characteristics of a fake person are not always evident right away. In most cases, the best way to tell if someone is genuine is to pay attention to how they speak to you.
Habits of genuine people can include sustaining eye contact, asking questions about your life, and reaching out even when it doesn’t benefit them. People fake being friends frequently, sometimes for the sake of a significant other, for workplace purposes, or the sake of a larger friend group. If you are getting the sense that someone is pretending to like you, try not to let it get to you.
What are the signs of fake friends?
If one of your friends is frequently talking about other people in your friend group negatively, you might start getting concerned that they are speaking about you like that behind your back as well. Gossip can be one way to seek attention or try to deflect from personal problems.
The characteristics of a fake person can include this sort of toxic gossip. Fake people don’t take the same sort of genuine care for another friend’s well-being. If fake people fake their interest in an obvious way, you might begin to notice the characteristics of a fake person.
What makes a person phony?
It is not always easy to tell the difference between authentic people and phony people. When you deal with fake people, they might be quite skilled at appearing genuine.
What makes a person phony isn’t always something you can see. For example, fake people are toxic, and this may be apparent in the way they speak to others or if their words do not match their actions. People fake seemingly honest intentions, and that’s when the toxicity of being phony can be the most problematic. A phony person may be harmless to you personally, but eventually, they could let you down if you rely on them.
What is a genuine person?
A genuine person is truthful with their words, actions, and intentions. Genuine people understand the importance of interpersonal connection. They take care of their relationships, dating relationships, friendships, and family in a way that will not always benefit them. When you deal with fake people, you won’t often feel seen or heard when speaking to a genuine person.
How can you tell if someone is insincere?
Fake people fake sincerity sometimes. For example, if they are desperate for attention, an insincere person might compliment you just for the sake of receiving one in return. In many cases, an insincere person will make promises that they do not follow up on. These people speak a “big game” but do not actually act on their words. They fake people into thinking they have your best interest at heart.
How do you tell if someone is using you in a friendship?
Understand the importance of this particular friendship by asking yourself: are you carrying more of the weight? Are you there for your friend more often than they are there for you? Is that person only contacting you when they need something?
Sometimes, people fake friendships to get things they want. Like in a friendship, the same can be true for dating relationships. The characteristics of a fake person may shine through when you take a moment to evaluate the give and take in the balance of your relationship.
What is an unhealthy friendship?
As seen in unhealthy dating relationships, unhealthy friendships can cause mental instability, eating disorders, and a lack of trust in your own intuition. Purposeful manipulation and toxicity from a friend would be the more dramatic example of an unhealthy friendship. Sometimes, just like in dating relationships, an unhealthy friendship can be seen in the small ways the person speaks to you, treats you, or doesn’t show up for you. A friend who makes you feel worse after seeing them than you did before could be an unhealthy friend.
In an unhealthy friendship, you will likely need to let the other person forge their own path without you involved. You may need to recognize that letting go of an unhealthy friendship is the best way to ensure your own well-being.
How do you tell if someone is jealous of you?
In some cases, people fake excitement when they are actually jealous of you. Likewise, in some cases, people fake being underwhelmed when they are jealous of you. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly how a jealous friend would react to your success, but when it comes to jealousy, let that person worry about finding their own success and happiness. Focusing on yourself and refusing to let jealous people affect your happiness will likely be your best move.
Why would someone pretend not to know you?
There could be a million reasons why a person would pretend not to know you. You might never really know why that occurs. If they are embarrassed for some reason to be seen as knowing you, it is probably their own problem and nothing you could change, so try not to worry about it.
What’s equally confusing is when a person pretends not to know you on social media. So, if a person pretends not to know you over social media, it could be just as true that they would pretend not to know you in real life. Try not to dwell on the reason why, if you can help it.
How do you know a girl is pretending to love you?
Any dating relationship in which you have to wonder if a girl is pretending to love you is likely not a relationship built on honesty and trust. In this circumstance, the characteristics of a fake person might be harder to see because of those rose-colored glasses. If you’re feeling insecure about your relationship, suggest new ideas for dates, initiate deeper talks, and maybe even suggest couples counseling with the assistance of a licensed professional.
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