Compliments can sometimes be tricky to navigate, as identified by a Belgian psychologist. There are several ways in which receiving compliments can make the person being complimented uncomfortable.
When someone compliments you, it might make you feel self-conscious or criticized. For instance, if a friend praises your outfit during a meet-up, you might feel uneasy due to the attention being drawn to you.
Another factor that can make compliments uncomfortable is social awkwardness or inappropriateness, such as when a boss gives you a personal compliment.
Aside from these, feelings of indebtedness, pressure to return the compliment, being misunderstood, or feeling inadequate can also arise when receiving compliments. If you’re unhappy with something you’ve done, a compliment from someone might irritate you.
One way to address these feelings is to remind yourself that the person giving the compliment likely meant well. They probably wanted to show appreciation and make you feel good with their kind words.
It’s not always easy to see compliments in this light, especially for those with low self-esteem. These individuals might yearn for understanding and feel like compliments suggest a lack of it.
Research indicates that compliments can have adverse effects on individuals with low self-esteem in romantic relationships, leading to feelings of anxiety and misunderstanding.
Recent studies have explored ways to help those with low self-esteem benefit from compliments by shifting focus from personal beliefs to situational context and relationship dynamics.
Overcoming low self-esteem might result in increased receptiveness to compliments over time.
This article addresses a question from George Alvin via email: “How can I accept a compliment well?”
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
