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25 Signs Of Highly Toxic People

Trista July 31, 2018

11. They Never Relinquish Control

There are two types of people in this world. Some people believe the world is ordered, and they have some element of control over it. And then some people believe that chaos governs the world. The former of these people live their lives in a set way. They have been brought up to believe that if one acts in a certain way and does a particular set of things, then things will turn out well for them. They think this philosophy drives every person and everything is explainable to some degree. But the latter of these people live in a completely different world. They see the world as being far more jumbled and chaotic. They do not believe there is a set, straightforward way to live one’s life. Furthermore, they do not see people as predictable creatures.

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While these two groups of people may have wildly different philosophies on life, they both seek some level of control. Neither one of them let things fall haphazardly where they may. Each may have other methods of control. However, every single one of them tries to exact varying degrees of control over their environment. That is human nature. Then there are evil people. These people are total control freaks. They seek to control everything and everyone. Unscrupulous individuals do this because it gives them power and because they believe it is their right. They see themselves as being better than others, and therefore they are entitled to use and control others to accomplish their means.

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10. They Demand Your Time

Life is a balancing act. You are only given 24 hours each day to accomplish all that you set out to do. Each person divides their time in their unique way, following how they value things. A person who loves sleep may ensure that they are getting adequate rest. One who is focused on success will dedicate far more time to their work than to anything else. Nevertheless, those who work to enjoy their lives will make sure that there is a balance between work and play. Every one of us is forced to do this juggling act between what we want and what we need to do. Because time is so important, people tend to surround themselves with people who value the same things. That is an attempt to avoid conflict.

A work-orientated person does not want to be nagged about working too much. They want their loved ones to accept and admire the fact they are dedicated to their work. A person who values experiences does not want to hear they lack ambition or focus. Nevertheless, while your loved ones may not always agree with the way you utilize your time, they do not go out of their way to waste it, either. Your loved ones do not demand your attention when they know you are needed elsewhere. An evil person differs in this regard. They do not value what you value, and they do not care about your success or happiness. Instead, they demand your time and attention whenever they see fit, regardless of how inconvenient it may be for you.

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9. They Are Well-Versed Manipulators

People are all quick to mouth off about manipulation, but can you come up with a definition? In the broadest sense, manipulation entails coercing a person into doing or feeling something they otherwise would not. Manipulators do this without the person’s knowledge. Instead, the victim of manipulation wonders why they are doing something out of character or feeling in such a way that doesn’t quite make sense. There are two damaging results of manipulation. The first is the direct result of the manipulation. A person may have been coerced into doing something without having all the information. Therefore, they are not aware of the consequences. In emotional manipulation, people will feel a multitude of damaging emotions the manipulator purposefully plants.

The second damaging result is when a manipulator robs a person of their free will. Free will does exist, and it is quite a heinous crime to take that away from a person. Each individual should have the right to make their own decisions. You should act how you feel fit, and you do not deserve to have someone toy with your emotions for amusement. An evil person is an incredibly skilled manipulator. They can make you feel whatever they desire. They can make people act in unconventional ways. Also, the manipulated individual may even trade their viewpoint of themselves with the perspective of the manipulator. An evil person can easily breaks down your sense of self and even your moral core.

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8. They Never Apologize

How often do people dole out sincere apologies? You may have received an apology before but was that person genuinely sorry? Or, were they trying to dispose of the situation as quickly as possible? A heartfelt apology requires how and why things went wrong. To sincerely deliver this apology, a person needs to be fully aware of the hurt they have inflicted. Once they reach this awareness, they are required to feel remorse. Remorse entails feeling guilty for the pain and harm they imposed on another human being. Genuine remorse is surprisingly hard to come by. Two things stand in the way of these sincere apologies. The first being that people do not have a similar range of emotions.

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Each person has a different tolerance and threshold to emotional pain. While a specific action may truly hurt one person, ten other people wouldn’t be phased. So, if a person would not be hurt themselves by their actions, then the chances are they are not likely to feel remorse when their efforts wind up hurting others. The second thing is that it takes a large amount of courage and character strength to admit fault. People do not like to think or acknowledge that they have made mistakes. They do not want to recognize the error in their judgment or ways. An evil person, on the other hand, will never apologize. Guilt is an entirely foreign emotion to malicious individuals. They do not care if they have caused another person harm. Therefore will not apologize for it.

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7. Their Reality Is Completely Different

People are different. That may sound like a feeble statement, but there is truth in its simplicity. People are always saying that everyone is different and entitled to their own opinion. However, what does this mean? People are different because they all see the world differently. Everyone has varying opinions on how they believe the world works and how it should work. People also have their own version of what is right and what is wrong. There is, unfortunately, no real moral benchmark on this planet. Different religious institutions and spiritual paths may try to define their standards. So, while in isolation, it rings true that things can get incredibly confusing when held alongside others.

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The culmination of all this individuality is that each person has their own reality. They only know the world through their eyes, and therefore the only relevant truth is their own. An evil person cannot possibly be excluded from this. They, too, have their own reality. There is, however, a slight deviation from the norm with these people. To evil people, there is no argument between right and wrong. They do not even feel the need to make the distinction. They live in a reality where they simply do whatever they want. Their wants and desires are all that is relevant. So the impact on other people does not even factor into the equation. Reality such as this is not born of a clash of ideology or upbringing. It arises from a prevailing belief that the person is more important than anyone else. They believe their desires and opinions are the only possible things that could ever matter.

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6. They Make You Feel Off

Human beings are designed explicitly for survival. For thousands of years, they have evolved in specific ways, with the sole aim of ensuring the survival of the human species. This evolution can be physical, but the more interesting systems lie beneath the surface. It includes the fight or flight reaction. That is a layman’s term for the sympathetic nervous system’s action that powers up when a person is in danger. When this system activates, there is a multitude of physiological changes that take place. The aim is to provide the person with the energy and capabilities to fight their attacker or flee to safety. Scientists have studied this physical response, so it is a scientific fact. There is, however, another kind of defense mechanism that human beings have.

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Science doesn’t fully understand this one. So, it is hard to explain in as much detail. This mechanism is a person’s instinct. Call it a person’s gut or even their intuition, but the implication is the same. People all have something inside that subtly alerts them when there is something amiss. It could be a place that is just not quite right. This place may not seem inherently dangerous, but you can tell there is something wrong with it. You may even feel that you should not be in this place. Moreover, the same is true for most people. You may just tell that there is something wrong with an evil person. When you are around them, you do not quite feel like yourself. Maybe you feel on edge, nervous, or even in danger. That is a clear sign of an evil or toxic person. Furthermore, it is a sign that you should never ignore.

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5. They Are Cruel

The previous points have dealt mainly with subtle signs. They have highlighted subversive ways that evil people hurt and manipulate others. However, there are specific obvious ways to spot a wrong person. Moreover, one of them is being cruel. People make mistakes. That is a simple, real fact about life. You may say things you do not mean and do things you shouldn’t do. In the heat of the argument, everyone is guilty of hurting the people they love. You may even do this knowingly out of overwhelming feelings of hurt and anger you feel at the moment. Furthermore, when you are hurt, you may lash out at those around you.

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You may even intentionally try to hurt those that hurt you. Perhaps you want that person to feel your pain or to know how much they affect you. It is human nature. Another aspect of human nature is that most people do not like doing this. In your heart, you may not want to hurt people. Furthermore, you probably do not want to be the source of their pain. Moreover, if you are unfortunate enough to harm a loved one, you may feel guilty about it. You may even try to repair the situation. Nevertheless, an evil, toxic person does none of these things. They are intentionally cruel. They derive pleasure in hurting others and do not feel any remorse once they finish the act. These people can hurt others either by displaying physical violence or by being emotionally abusive. They often mirror their inner hurt, and for that, they deserve some sympathy. However, others should not have to suffer because of their inner torment.

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4. Your Friends and Family Don’t Like Them

Your loved ones play a vital part in your life. They are there to help, to love, and to advise. These people will always have your best intentions at heart. They do not want to see you used, abused, or hurt. Also, they want you to live your best possible life. These people do not want to see you fail, either. They rejoice in your successes and will comfort you during your loss. However, they can be quite annoying at times. Moreover, this may make you far less inclined to listen to their advice and insights. One of the critical dangers when dealing with evil people is they can place you under their control. They use their vast arsenal of manipulation and lies to make you utterly submissive to them.

Toxic people set themselves up, so people value themselves according to their standards. They create a cycle where they break people down and then build them up, which fosters dependency. All of this means that people are blind to their real character. Victims of toxic people cannot tell what they are doing to them. They cannot see how the evil person is abusing them. Loved ones do not suffer from the same delusions as the victims. They can see what the cruel individual is doing to their loved ones. Moreover, they are generally quite vocal about it. If your friends and family say this person is bad news, it may be time to take a step back and evaluate what they are saying. These are people you trust and love. You know they care about you and you should, therefore, considering heeding their advice. They may well be seeing something that you are blind to.

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3. They Breed Confusion and Conflict

In general, people do not like conflict. Some people are more confrontational than others, but at heart, even these people do not like fighting. No one enjoys being angry and hurt. It is exhausting. Being involved in a fight, be it physical or emotional, leaves a person completely drained. It batters the heart, mind, spirit, and even the body. Conflict robs a person of their peace of mind. It also inhibits them from performing the simplest of tasks without being distracted by the current conflict. A person who is wrapped up in conflict is a vulnerable person. Their defenses are down because they do not have the strength to protect themselves from another onslaught. These same people could be quite formidable at their best.

However, during these times, they are particularly vulnerable to manipulation. They are primed to become a toxic person’s plaything. It is for this reason that evil people breed conflict. They sustain an environment that is entirely shrouded in conflict and confusion. That breeds dependency and fosters control. An evil person wants to keep you at your worst. They do not want you returning to full strength, as this will signal you do not need them anymore. When you are strong, they cannot control you, and they cannot let that happen. A person that leaves you feeling battered and confused is not someone you want to be around. You need people in your life that build you up, not break you down. Avoid people who breed conflict at all costs. They do not have good intentions. They are not good people. In fact, they thrive on emotionally wrecking good people. That makes them feel powerful and in control.

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2. They Don’t Respect Boundaries

Boundaries dictate how you interact with people. You form them while growing up and then use them later in life. According to psychologists, there are healthy boundaries and unhealthy boundaries. A person will have one of the two, depending on how they were brought up and their relationship with their parents. A parent is a caregiver. They are the ones that teach, provide and nurture you. Therefore, you have to able to depend on these people when you need them. A person who has had this kind of interaction with their parents probably has healthy boundaries. These boundaries will ensure that a person does not share too much about themselves too quickly.

These people will trust others appropriately and foster relationships that are neither too detached nor too dependent. Unhealthy boundaries, on the other hand, produce the exact opposite effect. These people do not trust people appropriately. They either trust too quickly or not at all. The same goes for sharing. They either reveal too much about themselves, or they do not open up at all. An evil person does not allow boundaries to dictate the way they interact with you. They demand to be heard, and they require your attention when they want it. Toxic people will never respect your privacy as information is power. This type of person wants to know how they can control and hurt you. Even once you have kicked them out of your life, they will do whatever it takes to force themselves back in. They will not respect your desires or intentions because, to them, you are inherently less important than themselves.

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1. They Enjoy Hurting Others and Do It With Humor

It takes a fair amount of character strength and confidence to be able to laugh at yourself. If you were honest with yourself, you would probably admit you do not like being teased. Most people would rather have others compliment them as opposed to knocking. No one wants their mistakes and insufficiencies held up and, worse, laughed at. But, we take it. We laugh it off because at the end of the day, to be human is to err. There are times when you can’t take life seriously. Everyone needs to laugh once in a while. Moreover, at times, it can be quite cathartic to laugh at oneself. There is a fine line here, though. It is essential not to use humor as a weapon to harm people.

Nevertheless, this is precisely what toxic people do. It has already been said they enjoy seeing others in pain. They intentionally hurt and insult other people. Furthermore, there are times when they use humor to do just that. That is a particularly menacing way to hurt people, as evil individuals can brush it off as a joke. When they utter those words that they were just joking, they have robbed a person of their right to feel hurt. A person hurt by what was supposedly meant as a joke is accused of taking things seriously or being sensitive. Toxic people thus use humor to flip the situation on its head. The onus no longer lies on them but rather on the hurt individual who is being overly dramatic. These people are now not liable for any blame because they were just joking. These are the 15 ways to know when you are dealing with an evil or toxic person. Did you recognize any of these traits in someone you know? If so, keep your eyes open to avoid manipulation and deceit.

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