I’ll give the not-so-nice people one compliment: they sure can be interesting creatures.

Think about it. Would we have any of history’s most compelling villains—Regina George in Mean Girls, Blofeld in Skyfall, The Joker in Batman—if everyone was walking around being the perfect exemplary nice person?

Not a chance!

I happen to know that I’m not alone in this sentiment.

19th century writer Oscar Wilde once said: “Bad people are, from the point of view of art, fascinating studies. They represent color, variety and strangeness. Good people exasperate one’s reason; bad people stir one’s imagination.”

Of course, when it comes to art and entertainment, it’s more often than not a baddie bringing the noise, but when it comes to the real world, we might be looking for a little more peace in our daily interactions.

Which is where my article comes in…

How do you spot a not-so-nice person in the wild?

Well, according to my psychological research, it starts with the big F: their flaws.

1) Their flaws impact others more than themselves

None of us are perfect. We all have our drawbacks. 

But the main sign for a not-so-nice person is when their flaws become overly harmful.

A 2020 psychological study explored this concept in detail, concluding that the “destructiveness” of a person’s flaws “may have a greater impact on others than on the carriers of these traits themselves.”

So, the crux of the issue is that the repercussions of these tendencies go far beyond the individual who’s got them in the first place.

For example, a person who habitually lies or manipulates others can severely damage trust within relationships. 

When these imperfections consistently result in negative outcomes for others, it becomes problematic.

2) They tend to be on the neurotic side

A 2022 study on university students in Taiwan examined five major personality traits and their link to negative emotions.

Researchers found that neuroticism was “significantly associated with negative emotional states” as it is related to “maladaptive emotion regulation.”

While some of us might think of neurotic people as being like a protagonist in a Woody Allen film, in reality it’s not so quirky or loveable.

Think of neuroticism like having your stress and worry levels eternally dialed up to 20.

When a person is high on the neuroticism scale, their emotions can be all over the place, making it hard to predict how they’ll react to anything

Imagine hanging out with someone who’s always on edge—it’s not exactly a smooth ride.

This trait can seriously mess with a person’s relationships. Another study preempted this, concluding that “neuroticism is linked to conflictual relationship, small networks, perceived unavailability of support, and negative affect.”

Of course, being neurotic isn’t a complete deal-breaker, but it can definitely be a marker for someone who isn’t super nice most of the time. Because with them, you never quite know what you’re gonna get.

3) They exhibit signs of the Dark Triad

Two decades back, a pair of Canadian psychologists shook up the scene with groundbreaking research.

Del Paulhus and Kevin Williams rolled out the concept of the “Dark Triad,” a trio of less than desirable traits: psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism.

According to the psychologists, these traits can sometimes cross over and contribute to what we might label as a person’s “bad” character.

A 2022 piece by The British Psychological Society explored this idea of the Dark Triad and bad character, breaking down each one of the traits in detail.

What it might look like is this: a not-so-nice person who has psychopathic tendencies will struggle with empathy, impulsiveness, and manipulation. They might also pile on the superficial charm.

Those who exhibit Machiavellianism can be amoral and deceitful, often being super calculative with how they handle others—which can verge on exploitation.

Narcissistic individuals, one you might be a wee bit more familiar with, involves maintaining a grandiose sense of self, a hunger for admiration, and buckets of entitlement.

So, there you have it. One hell of a hat trick.

4) They view others in a negative light

When certain people consistently have negative views of others, it often hints at deeper personal issues. Much deeper ones.

A social psychology study found that negative perceptions of others are often connected to higher levels of narcissism and antisocial behavior.

“A huge suite of negative personality traits are associated with viewing others negatively,” says Dustin Wood, assistant professor of psychology and study co-author.

The research shows that those who maintain such negative perceptions might often view the world through a super warped lens, where empathy and compassion are replaced by self-centeredness and hostility. 

Narcissism, as we explored before, is characterized by an inflated ego, can lead people to view others as inferior or unworthy of kindness or care.

Similarly, antisocial behavior, marked by a total disregard for societal norms and the rights of others, often results in negative perceptions of those around them, viewing them more as obstacles or threats rather than fellow human beings.

It’s like a chain reaction where one negative perception triggers a cascade of harmful behaviors, patterns, and attitudes. 

5) They mistreat others at work

Sometimes, the workplace is where the bad guys live—and hide.

A 2020 Princeton University study into professionals with disagreeable personalities explored this.

“They abuse those who work for them, prioritize their own self-interests over the good of their group, create cultures of corruption that normalize malfeasance, and ultimately lead their organizations to fail,” said researchers.

These are the people who cultivate a toxic culture that normalizes unethical behavior, allowing corruption to thrive unchecked. 

By turning a blind eye to misconduct, they weaken the organization’s integrity and accountability, ultimately jeopardizing its security and success. 

Without someone stepping in, these folks can steer the organization towards downfall.

But you’ve probably noticed this: those with disagreeable personalities can sometimes carry considerable influence, often at the expense of their subordinates. And this can lead to a startling mindset among those around them.

Researchers elaborated on this concept: “When people see a disagreeable person in power, they might conclude that being disagreeable will help them attain power and, in turn, behave more disagreeably. If such a belief is inaccurate, it is important to empirically dispel this myth.”

Big agree!

6) They put themselves above others—and not in a good way

Selfishness, at its core, is about looking out for number one—and it’s often at the expense of others.

A recent study explored a topic that some of your ex-partners might know a huge deal about: the psychology of selfishness.

Researchers said: “Being labeled selfish has clear negative moral connotations in human life. Indeed, it is one of the least likable qualities a person can possess.”

It’s true. It’s one of those traits that nobody really wants to be associated with because it’s just not cool to put your own needs above everyone else’s all the time.

Of course, while selfishness isn’t exactly a glowing trait, it’s not always black and white either. 

But when it starts to mess with how a person treats others and the world around them, that’s when it’s time to hit pause and maybe reconsider your relationship with that person.