Tara Whitmore
Low-quality behavior isn’t about wealth or status—it’s about the attitudes and actions that reveal a lack of character, empathy, or emotional intelligence.
These patterns can be subtle or glaringly obvious, but they often create conflict, undermine relationships, and leave others feeling drained.
According to psychologists, like myself, identifying these behaviors can help you set boundaries and avoid toxic dynamics.
Let’s explore eight textbook behaviors of a low-quality person—and why recognizing them is crucial for your well-being:
1) Dismissiveness
These individuals often display a dismissive attitude, undermining their thoughts and feelings.
Let’s say someone expresses discomfort about a certain situation.
They might respond with, “You’re just overreacting,” or, “It’s not a big deal.”
This way, they manage to trivialize one’s concerns and make the person doubt their own judgment.
Dismissiveness is essentially a way of asserting dominance and control—or just simply brushing someone off—as it can make them feel insignificant, as if their feelings are unworthy of consideration.
The resulting self-doubt can be debilitating and make the person second-guess their decisions.
The person may even find themselves apologizing for having an opinion or a feeling, thereby fueling their dismissive behavior.
Understanding this trait can help them recognize it when it occurs and take steps to protect themselves from its damaging effects.
2) Excessive politeness
On the surface, being excessively polite seems like a positive trait. After all, who doesn’t appreciate good manners?
But when it’s overdone, it can actually be a red flag.
People who are excessively polite often use this as a mask to hide their true intentions or feelings.
They may agree with their companion or partner on everything, constantly showering them with compliments, and always insisting on going the extra mile to help.
This can make it difficult for them to gauge their genuine thoughts or feelings.
While it’s great to be polite and considerate, extreme politeness can sometimes be a manipulative tactic.
It makes it hard for them to criticize or confront them because they always appear so kind and helpful.
Moreover, their over-politeness can make the person feel obliged to them, creating an imbalance in their relationship.
It’s important to recognize this behavior and maintain boundaries to ensure a healthy interaction.
3) Lack of empathy
It’s in our human nature to feel for others, to share and understand their emotions.
But a low-quality person might often show a lack of empathy.
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It’s what allows us to connect with people on a deeper level.
Without it, relationships can feel superficial and one-sided.
A person who lacks empathy might struggle to acknowledge their feelings or see things from their perspective.
The person might express their worries or pain, only to be met with indifference or even mockery—dismissing their feelings because they can’t, or choose not to, relate to them.
This lack of empathy can create a disconnect in one’s relationship.
They may feel unheard and unimportant, hindering the development of a meaningful bond.
Interestingly, according to a study from the Journal of Current Biology, our brains are wired for empathy through what’s known as ‘mirror neurons’; these neurons fire both when we perform an action and when we see someone else perform that same action, helping us understand and share their feelings.
Therefore, lacking empathy goes against our natural neurological makeup.
4) Unreliability
Life can be unpredictable, and we all may fall short on our commitments from time to time due to unforeseen circumstances.
However, a pattern of unreliability can be a sign of a low-quality person.
These individuals might frequently cancel plans at the last minute, fail to meet deadlines, or forget about promises they’ve made.
This inconsistent behavior can leave the person feeling uncertain and undervalued.
We all deserve to have people in our lives who respect our time and energy.
It’s not about expecting perfection, but rather about valuing consistency and reliability.
If they’re dealing with an unreliable person, remember, it’s not a reflection of their worth but rather their inability to respect commitments.
It’s okay to express how their behavior affects them and seek relationships that provide the reliability and respect they deserve.
5) Gossiping
We’ve all been there, enjoying a casual chat, when suddenly the conversation takes a turn towards gossip.
It can be about a colleague, a friend, or even a complete stranger.
While it might seem harmless at first, engaging in gossip is often a trait of a low-quality person.
They tend to thrive on discussing others’ lives, often highlighting their flaws or mishaps.
Gossiping not only reflects poorly on the person doing it, but it can also create a toxic environment; it breeds negativity and distrust, making the person wonder what they might be saying about them when they’re not around.
Moreover, it sidetracks meaningful conversations and connections.
Instead of getting to know each other better through shared experiences or ideas, the focus shifts to discussing others.
Consider steering the discussion towards more positive and constructive topics.
They’ll likely find the exchange far more rewarding.
6) Playing the victim
We’ve all faced challenges and at times, felt victimized by circumstances beyond our control.
However, some people tend to perpetually play the victim card, using it as a manipulation tool or as an excuse to avoid taking responsibility.
For instance, I once knew someone who never took ownership of their mistakes: If they arrived late to a meeting, it was always because of an unexpected traffic jam or an alarm clock that didn’t go off.
If they failed to deliver on a task, it was never their fault but always someone else’s.
This constant playing of the victim card can be exhausting and frustrating.
It erodes trust and respect, as it demonstrates their unwillingness to take accountability for their actions.
Recognizing this behavior is the first step towards dealing with it effectively.
It’s important to encourage responsibility rather than feeding into their victim narrative.
7) Dishonesty
Truthfulness is the foundation of any healthy relationship, but a low-quality person might often resort to dishonesty, whether it’s fibbing about small matters or spinning grand tales.
Dishonesty disrupts trust, creating doubt and uncertainty.
They start questioning their own words and actions, wondering what’s real and what’s not.
One falsehood can lead to another, creating a web of deceit that’s hard to untangle.
It’s a destructive cycle that chips away at their relationship over time.
Here’s the bottom line: Everyone deserves honesty—it’s not too much to ask from anyone one interacts with.
If someone continues to be dishonest despite their discussions and pleas for truth, it might be time to reconsider their place in one’s life.
8) Lack of personal growth
Life is a journey of growth and learning.
We all have our strengths and weaknesses, but the key lies in acknowledging our flaws and striving to improve.
However, a low-quality person often lacks this drive for personal growth.
They may resist change, deny their shortcomings, or fail to learn from their mistakes.
This can lead to stagnation, not just for them but also for the people around them.
Their refusal to grow can limit one’s own development and hinder the progress of their relationship.
The most important thing to remember is this: Personal growth is non-negotiable.
It’s what makes us human and helps us evolve.
People should surround themselves with other people who inspire growth, not those who inhibit it.
Their environment plays a crucial role in their development, so choose it wisely.
Conclusion
Understanding the traits of a low-quality person isn’t about judging or labeling others—it’s about gaining insight to help navigate relationships effectively.
This article aims to help you recognize these behaviors and understand their impact, but ultimately, the choice is yours on how to respond.
Remember, the time and energy you spend on relationships should enrich your life, not drain it.
Being self-aware means knowing when to stand your ground, and not allowing anyone to mistreat or manipulate you.
Here’s to building healthier, more fulfilling relationships!
