10 Low-Key Signs Of Disrespect You May Be Overlooking

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The tricky thing about disrespect is that it often requires some level of discernment to identify. Of course, you have your blatant acts of disrespect, such as overstepping physical boundaries and verbal attacks, but signs that a person has minimal respect for you are often much more subtle. In many cases, disrespect consists of a series of small acts that leave you feeling offended, angry, and perhaps even confused. Subtle disrespect will often have you second-guessing yourself. It makes you wonder if the offender is simply careless and inconsiderate or if they actually meant to slight you. It can make you question whether your feelings are justified or if you are being overly sensitive.

“Incivility can take much more subtle forms, and it is often prompted by thoughtlessness rather than actual malice,” the Harvard Business Review explains. “Such relatively minor acts can be even more insidious than overt bullying, because they are less obvious and easier to overlook—yet they add up, eroding engagement and morale.”

When these actions are consistent and habitual, whether they’re a result of thoughtlessness or malice, failure to address them and establish clear boundaries will lead to strong feelings of resentment and damage the relationship over time. Disrespect is like cancer to both professional and personal relationships, but the first step to rectifying the problem is confidently identifying it in the first place.

Talking over you

In informal conversations, it’s not uncommon for friends and relatives to interrupt one another or speak simultaneously as they excitedly chatter about a subject of mutual interest. However, repeatedly speaking over people during serious conversations or in an academic or professional setting is disrespectful and sends the message that one person feels that their contributions or thoughts are more important than the person whom they are interrupting.

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Perpetual lateness

We all have our moments when we are running behind schedule; however, when a person is virtually never on time for appointments that they set with you, it is a clear indicator they do not value your time. They believe that you will wait around for them, regardless of how long they take to show up.

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Pulling no-shows

Schedules change and emergencies happen, but they are no excuse for failure to communicate. People who schedule appointments and/or agree to attend events and then fail to appear without so much as an explanation beforehand or after, don’t value the relationship, your time, and in some cases, your money.

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Dismissiveness

When a person is quick to dismiss your concerns and ideas or frequently displays an overall dismissive attitude towards you, it is often rooted in disrespect or disdain. Psychology experts believe that blatant dismissiveness is a way that some people seek to exude power by making others appear and feel small.

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Condescension

Dissmissiveness and condescension often go hand-in-hand. Condescending attitudes can manifest in many ways, but the offender will generally try to make you feel as though you are incompetent or less knowledgeable than they are. They may explain things to you that they are likely aware that you already know or speak down to you or speak at you as opposed to speaking to you.

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They apply pressure

When people attempt to pressure you to do things that they know you do not wish to do or things that you have expressed clear and reasonable discomfort about, it’s s sign that they do not respect your wishes or the boundaries that you have tried to establish.

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Backhanded compliments

Often dubbed the compliment sandwich, backhanded compliments are when people give you praise while also criticizing you. People who can’t manage to compliment you without simultaneously tearing you down are disrespectful and deep down inside, they usually don’t care for you all that much. They also generally struggle with self-esteem issues themselves.

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Lack of consideration

When the people in your life continuously demonstrate a blatant lack of consideration for you, your needs, your feelings, and your responsibilities, it is often because the respect is absent. This can often manifest through insensitive comments, repeated violations of trust, belittling, and humiliation. “That’s just how they are” is not a plausible excuse for this type of conduct.

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Rigidness

A necessary component to healthy personal and business relationships is compromise. No one person should be in control at all times. Rigidness and an unwillingness to compromise in a relationship is a sign that one party has minimal respect for the opinions and ideas of the other party, which manifests as an imbalance of power.

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