Having the feeling that someone is looking down on you never feels good.
You have to remember that people do this to make themselves feel better and cover their own insecurities.
But that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with.
If you see signs that someone is being condescending and looking down on you, you should distance yourself from them.
To help you out, here are 15 signs someone looks down on you and thinks they’re better than you are:
15 Signs Someone Looks Down on You
1. They Point Out Your Faults and Mistakes
When someone looks down on you they’ll be quick to point out your faults and mistakes and generally nitpick at you.
It’s not a good feeling, but it’s one of the many ways they can bring you down and pump themselves up so they feel more important than you.
Related – Here are 15 signs someone thinks they’re much better than you.
2. They Criticize Your Decisions
Similar to highlighting your faults, someone looking down on you will criticize your decisions and try to make you second guess yourself.
They do this to undermine you and make you question your own abilities so that they can step in and take control.
3. They Act Like They Are ‘know-It-Alls’
No one likes a know-it-all, and arrogant people tend to think they know everything and will act like it.
If someone looks down on you they’ll likely dismiss your opinions and act like they are always right.
This will make you doubt your own opinions and make you feel inferior to them – or at least that’s what they want to happen.
4. They Don’t Make Good Eye Contact When Talking to You
Eye contact is one of the most prominent body language cues and can give away a lot about what someone thinks and feels around you.
If someone looks down on you they probably won’t make good eye contact when talking to you as they’ll want to avoid any real connection or intimacy.
It’s possible they’re nervous or it’s something else, but it’s certainly an indication that they’re not comfortable around you.
5. They Talk Bad About You Behind Your Back
Gossiping behind your back is a classic sign that someone doesn’t respect you and looks down on you.
If they’re talking to others about your faults and flaws in an attempt to make you look bad they lack respect for you.
6. They’re Not Willing to Make Time for You
If someone is looking down on you and seeing you as not important as them, they might not be willing to make time for you in their schedule.
This is because they don’t value your time as much as their own and don’t see you as a priority in their life.
It’s not a nice feeling, but it’s the reality of someone who has a higher opinion of themselves than you.
7. They Ask a Lot of You and Don’t Give Much Back
Another classic sign someone looks down on you as being less important than them is when they ask a lot of you and take a lot, without giving back.
This means you’re in an uneven and unfair relationship where you’re doing all the work and they’re just taking advantage.
8. They Won’t Apologize for Anything
If someone looks down on you they’re not likely to apologize for anything, even if it’s their fault.
This is because they see themselves as being better than you and not needing to say sorry for anything.
It’s a frustrating trait to deal with, but it’s one of the many signs that someone has a superiority complex.
Related – Tips for asking someone out casually!
9. They Interrupt You when You’re Talking
Interrupting someone is rude and it’s a sign that they don’t think what you’re saying is important.
It may also be that they want to shut you down as you’re taking some of the limelight they want.
Whatever the reason, if they had respect for you as an equal they would let you finish what you’re saying before talking.
10. They Turn Conversations Around to Themselves
As if interrupting you wasn’t enough, if someone also manages to turn conversations around to make themself the talking point, they don’t care about what you have to say.
All they want is to hear themselves talk and be the center of attention.
It’s a sure sign that someone doesn’t see you as being on their level, and it’s just plain rude.
11. They Tell You How You Should Live Your Life
This is something that always annoys me, especially when the person dishing out the advice isn’t doing anything special themselves.
It’s a sign that they think they know better than you and want to control how you live your life.
You should never let anyone else tell you how to live your life, especially someone who thinks they’re better than you and don’t have your best interests at heart.
12. They Make Condescending Remarks
Condescending remarks are another way to try and make you feel inferior, usually by making fun of you or putting you down.
It’s a way to try and humiliate you and make you feel small.
It’s a very hurtful thing to do and is one of the many signs that someone is toxic and you need to distance yourself from them.
13. They Never Compliment or Encourage You
If someone never has a good word to say about you, or anything you do, it’s a sign they don’t think much of you.
They might even try and put you down or make you feel bad about yourself instead of offering any encouragement.
It’s not a healthy way to treat people and I’m sure you know how bad it feels to be on the receiving end.
14. They Boast About Their Achievements
On the back of not recognizing your achievements, if someone is always boasting about how great they are it’s a way of putting you down.
It’s their way of saying “I’m a higher achiever than you” and trying to make you feel inferior.
Of course, they’ll never admit that they feel insecure inside and are jealous of your achievements.
15. They Don’t Listen or Remember Important Things About You
Finally, if someone doesn’t listen properly and can’t remember things about you or simply choose to ignore what you say, they think you’re beneath them.
It’s hurtful to feel like someone doesn’t care about you or your life, especially if you’re putting a lot of effort into the friendship.
Let this – along with the other signs in this list – be a warning that you need to distance yourself from them.
Why Do People Look Down on Others?
There can be many reasons why someone looks down on others.
It could be a way of masking their own insecurity or low self-esteem.
Or it could be that they’ve been brought up to think that they’re better than other people.
Whatever the reason, it’s important to remember that it’s their problem, not yours.
It’s often easier said than done, but you should never let someone else’s toxic behavior change the way you feel about yourself.
The people we spend time with have a huge impact on our lives, if you know someone you hang around with looks down on you it’s better for both of you if you push them away.
If they really do care about you and see you as being on their level or even above them, they’ll make an effort to change their ways.
What Should You Do if Someone Looks Down on You?
If you think someone looks down on you there are a few things you can do about it.
- You could try and talk to them about their behavior, but this can be a tricky conversation to have and might not achieve anything.
- You could also try and figure out why they’re acting the way they are, so you can offer them some support.
But, it’s often better to just distance yourself from them instead.
If someone is making you feel bad about yourself it’s not a healthy friendship or relationship, and you’re better off without them.
Image credits – depositphotos.com/stock-photo-two-women-are-studying-and
Phil lives in England, UK, and has around 20 years experience as a professional life, career and executive coach. He started this blog to help others find and define their own self development journey. Blogging about a wide range of topics to help facilitate a better future.
Great lessons to me