6 Characteristics of insensitive people

In life there are all kinds of people. Some people are empathic, kind and identify with the needs of others. However, others seem not to be able to understand the emotions of others and even develop a cold behavior, without realizing that they are causing pain and discomfort around them. The latter are distinguished by being insensitive people.

Insensitive people can make emotional and interpersonal relationships very difficult. heavy and a real nightmare, so they are generally individuals who end up isolated and alone. If you want to know the characteristics of insensitive people, in this Psychology-Online article we will give you the information you need. In this way, you will know if you are facing someone like this so that their attitude does not affect you and you maintain your emotional calm.

Index

1. Causes of emotional numbness
2. They show no affection
3. Make demeaning comments or practice offensive assertiveness
4. They enjoy bullying and teasing
5. Disrespect for limits
6. Put others down and show a lack of social sensitivity
7. They do not tolerate other opinions
8. What to do with insensitive people

Why are people so insensitive? Insensitive people do not see or act on the suffering of others. However, no one is born insensitive, since behind emotional management there is a whole context of experience and learning that has shaped the attitudes we have in different situations and drawbacks.

The reasons for emotional numbness vary from person to person, as each person has a different life story. However, the main causes of emotional numbness can be summarized as follows:

• genetic alterations and neurological disorders that produce a condition called Alexithymia, which is characterized because people cannot demonstrate or identify emotions.
• anger or annoyance repressed by some situations they have experienced and that has created a kind of "shell" of insensitivity to maintain their self-control.
• Lack of self-esteem and insecurity issues that lead to overwhelm or attack other people to try to feel better in the short term.
• major emotional trauma that derive in the appearance of insensitivity as a way for self-protection.
• People too involved in their ego or narrative They forget to empathize with others.
• Being in stressful situations, in which some people do not know how to deal with their emotions in a constructive way.

Now that you know some of the possible causes of emotional insensitivity, let's see what are the characteristics of insensitivity in people:

How do insensitive people react? One of its first characteristics is that they show no affection before anything or anyone. For the insensitive, that someone is sad, upset or suffering from something is totally unimportant.

In fact, they are not empathetic and much less show any kind of interest in the suffering of others. Of course, they don't go out of their way to make others around them feel comfortable, which creates a negative and disharmony barrier in their relationships.

Insensitive people don't always know what they're doing. However, the most common is that they are expressed with a language lacking empathy. Therefore, they often make degrading comments to try to undermine the self-esteem of others and hurt them. It is common for them to justify this type of behavior under the well-known premise of “I say what I think”.

Likewise, their communication with others is loaded with sarcastic messages that have the subtle intention of devaluing the point of view of others, which causes discomfort in the recipients.

Insensitive people do not understand their own emotions very well, therefore, they will not be able to understand how other people feel either. This fact leads them to become involved in harmful and negative attitudes that cause harm to the people around them, such as bullying or teasing others for some physical condition or characteristic.

The usual thing is that his jokes in bad taste go too far, to the point of hurting the emotional limits of other individuals. If within your circle of friends someone enjoys teasing and intimidation, you may be dealing with an insensitive person.

Do you want to know another of the characteristics of insensitive people? Those who lack emotional sensitivity cross personal boundaries and again. It is normal for them to go beyond the point of comfort in personal relationships and encourage others to act out of their usual character to try to defend themselves.

Moreover, many of them only show empathy when it suits them, something that specialists call “instrumental empathy”.

Insensitive people care little or nothing about social problems such as discrimination, injustice, and inequality. For them they are issues of no importance or value because, according to them, that does not affect their lives at all.

Besides, the humiliation staff is one of his most used tacticsBecause they feel so bad about themselves, their goal is to emotionally bring others down to level the playing field.

A person with emotional insensitivity always lives in his own bubble and believes that everything he thinks, says and does is the right thing. For this reason, you will never accept second-hand opinions that contradict your attitude or actions. In fact, a simple conversation can end in an argument simply for giving a different point of view than that of the insensitive.

On the other hand, their thoughts come out of their mouths at top speed, so they almost never think before they speak, no matter what damage or consequences their words may cause.

Insensitive people abound today. Do not let his attitude towards life harm your mood or emotional stability. On the contrary, build a wall of trust around you to politely curb the cruelty that these individuals give off and learn to see things from another angle.

When you commit to not lowering yourself to insensitivity, your whole life will become simpler and more bearable.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Characteristics of insensitive people, we recommend that you enter our category of Personality.

• Critchley, M. d (1968). Indifference or congenital insensitivity to pain. Journal of Medicine of the University of Navarra, 113-121.
• Reyes, i. Insensitivity. Ethical dilemma.