Common and Secret Judgments People Make About Others

People often judge others based on a variety of behaviors and characteristics, some of which are more commonly observed and secretly held than others. Here are some common behaviors and characteristics that people tend to judge others for:

Common Behaviors People Judge

1. How You Treat Support Staff: How you interact with waiters, receptionists, and other support staff can be a significant indicator of your character. Treating them with respect and kindness is often seen as a positive trait, while rudeness or indifference can be judged negatively.
   

   

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2. Phone Usage During Conversations: Pulling out your phone during a conversation can be seen as disrespectful and indicative of a lack of attention and listening skills.
3. Punctuality: Being consistently late can lead people to think that you lack respect and are disorganized or lazy. However, some studies suggest that lateness might be linked to a more relaxed personality rather than a lack of respect.
4. Handshake: A firm handshake is often associated with confidence and extroversion, while a weak handshake can be seen as a sign of shyness or lack of confidence.
5. Eye Contact: Maintaining appropriate eye contact is crucial. Too much eye contact can be perceived as aggressive, while too little can make you seem disinterested or shy.
6. Public Etiquette: Behaviors such as spitting in public, leaving a mess, or being loud in quiet places are often judged negatively.

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Characteristics People Judge

1. Physical Appearance: People often make judgments based on physical appearance, including facial features and body language. For example, attractive people are often perceived as having positive traits like kindness and competence, while those with facial anomalies may be unfairly judged as less competent or trustworthy.
2. Personality Traits: Traits such as agreeableness, warmth, and sociability are commonly judged from facial appearances. People believe they can accurately assess these traits from faces, although this may not always be the case.
3. Social Skills: Competence and sociability are important traits that people judge in others. These traits are situation-dependent, meaning their importance can vary based on the context, such as a job interview versus a social gathering.

Secret Judgments People Make

1. Parenting Skills: People often judge parents based on how they manage their children in public. Allowing children to run around or scream in inappropriate places can lead to negative judgments about the parent's ability to manage their children.
2. Environmental Awareness: Judgments are often made based on how environmentally conscious a person appears to be. For example, leaving the car running at the gas pump or taking up more than one seat on public transport can be seen as inconsiderate.
3. Personal Habits: Habits like nail-biting, face-touching, or fidgeting can be judged as signs of nervousness or lack of control. These habits can give off an impression of being overwhelmed or anxious.
4. Public Displays of Affection: How people interact with their partners in public can also be a subject of judgment. Excessive or inappropriate displays of affection might be seen as unprofessional or disrespectful.

Understanding these common judgments can help individuals be more aware of their own behaviors and how they might be perceived by others. Being mindful of these aspects can lead to more positive and respectful interactions.