Is over complimenting a red flag? (2023)

What does it mean when someone compliments you too much?

The too-frequent compliment.

Compliments can be subject to the laws of economics, meaning that the more often you give them out, the less they mean. By giving nonstop compliments, you seem insincere, and even if you genuinely feel this way, it would be best to keep some of those words of admiration to yourself.

It's always better to give just one compliment at a time, and you need to make sure it's sincere so there's no reason for the other person to doubt your words. That way, they will appreciate what you've said and take it to heart. Compliments turn into flattery when it's selfishly motivated, not encouraging, and humble.

flatterer. A person who lavishes praise, often insincerely; a sycophant: he is not allowing flatterers to deceive him.

“Flattery” is most commonly defined as excessive and insincere praise. The naïve, the needy, the impressionable, or the ego-centric view flattery as genuine praise. Discerning people understand flattery to be disingenuous, false praise motivated by an agenda.

: insincere or excessive praise.

More often than not, our receptivity to compliments is a reflection of our self-esteem and deep feelings of self-worth. Specifically, compliments can make people with low self-esteem feel uncomfortable because they contradict their own self-views.

For many people, compliments trigger insecurities, making them feel a bit uneasy, or even outright uncomfortable, as if the compliment is a problem to cope with instead of a gift to be enjoyed.

Why do we crave praise? “For many people, praise can be a reflection of their self-worth,” Dr Ben-Ari tells me. “It serves as a reminder that they are worthy, that they belong, that they are loved, appreciated or admired.

What are red flags for a guy?

Examples of red-flag symptoms in the older adult include but are not limited to pain following a fall or other trauma, fever, sudden unexplained weight loss, acute onset of severe pain, new-onset weakness or sensory loss, loss of bowel or bladder function, jaw claudication, new headaches, bone pain in a patient with a ...

Gaslighters/narcissists can never fully compliment someone unless there is an insult tied to it. In broad terms, it's sometimes known as a "backhanded compliment." An example would be, "I like your dress, it almost fits you." The compliment-insult, or complisult, first sets you up, trusting the person ever so slightly.

Narcissists are so hungry for praise that they assume others are as well. They may tell you that you are special, that only you understand them, or that only you know how to take care of them. In truth, narcissistic flattery is not based on who you really are. Narcissists rarely see who others are.

Narcissists want to be complimented. They don't have to make people feel good about themselves because it's not their job to do so. You'd be lucky to get a compliment from a narcissist, and even if you do you have reason to be suspicious.

Praise isn't always bad, but it can become manipulative when it has an ulterior motive to influence student behavior versus expressing genuine heartfelt feelings. Manipulative praise can hinder a learner's ability to reach their fullest potential.

Flattery is a type of manipulation. Under-confident people often use it to feel more powerful and to win approval. Passive-aggressive people use it to get their own way. It's widely used by people who want to get into the good books of others, or to help them achieve their own goals.

It's absolutely clear what Oscar Wilde meant (so many forget the second half of the quote) when he wrote “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” If any imitation is going to happen, let the mediocre imitate you.

Why do I freak out when someone compliments me?

“People have trouble accepting compliments for a number of reasons. Sometimes, it's tied to social anxiety. It can also be caused by feelings of low self-esteem, or by going through life without experiencing positive feelings of gratitude,” explains Lisa Schuman, a New York–based social worker.

When you deflect or deny that praise, you're basically contradicting them; you're saying that they don't have good judgment, discernment, or taste, or that they're insincere — that they don't know what they're talking about. You're returning their kind words with an insult.

All this to say, many of us respond awkwardly to compliments as an unconscious act of self-protection. Unfortunately, this unconscious self-protection often robs us of human connection. It keeps us from letting in the kind words and gratitude of others.

Like food addiction, praise addiction is complex because it's impossible to simply eliminate your drug of choice. Some amount of narcissistic supply is normal and healthy (and people probably won't stop giving compliments). In order to break a praise addiction, however, it's useful to “fast” for a few days.

Turns out, this cheek-coloring reaction is a universal human response to social attention. Everyone does it, some more than others. Common blushing triggers include meeting someone important, receiving a compliment, and when experiencing a strong emotion in a social situation.