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When someone gives you a compliment, it makes you feel good.
A backhanded compliment, however, can have the opposite effect.
Was That Just a Backhanded Compliment?
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Experts say that the way a person receives a backhanded compliment can largely depend upon their own feelings andvulnerabilities.
For Alderson, words directed at her became a term of endearment.
At first, this feels like a direct complement.
you might tell someone is giving you a backhanded compliment because of how the compliment makes you feel.
Do their words make you doubt yourself or your abilities?
Does it highlight aninsecuritythat you have?
Its likely a backhanded compliment.
Other examples of backhanded compliments include:
Why Do People Give Backhanded Compliments?
The person behind the putdown is often battling issues of their own.
Not all backhanded compliments are negative.
Some individuals may give backhanded compliments unintentionally due to a lack of tact or poorcommunication skills.
No matter the reason for the offhanded remarks, knowing how to respond to them is key.
Ultimately, any of these strategies can be a productive way to respond to a backhanded compliment.
Sezer, Ovul, Alison Wood Brooks, and Michael I. Norton.
“Backhanded Compliments: How Negative Comparisons Undermine Flattery.
“Harvard Business School Working Paper, No.
18-082, February 2018.
