Russians were told how to recognize toxic people

People prone to toxic behavior are like a slow-acting poison: outwardly harmless, they gradually poison the mental state of those around them with their words and actions, shared her observations practicing psychologist, teacher at the Moscow Institute of Psychology Elizaveta Lazareva.

The expert outlined the key signs of destructive influence and methods of resisting manipulation. As the psychologist noted, interaction with such individuals leaves a painful emotional trace: anxiety, exhaustion, unfounded guilt or oppressive irritation. Lazareva recommends analyzing the environment, paying attention to those whose presence systematically causes internal dissonance.

Among the markers of toxicity, the psychologist identified several stable patterns. The main one, she said, is the perception of reality through the prism of gloomy colors. In dialogues with "emotional poisoners," pessimistic topics dominate, the emphasis shifts to failures, and any positive aspects are deliberately hushed up or denied, Lenta.ru reports.

Another distinctive feature of Lazarev is sarcasm, which masks the inability to have sincere humor. Instead of unifying laughter, which creates an atmosphere of trust, such individuals cultivate caustic ridicule. Their witticisms often humiliate their interlocutors, but any irony in response is perceived as a personal insult.

The expert named hypertrophied suspiciousness as a typical manifestation of toxicity. Destructive personalities tend to look for hidden intent in neutral actions, explain their own failures by other people's machinations, and cherish imaginary grievances for years, even when there were no prerequisites for conflict.

According to the psychologist, manipulative techniques are especially dangerous. "They masterfully influence emotions to achieve their goals. Consciously or not, they masterfully evoke a sense of guilt or attacks of compassion. The ultimate goal is to subjugate someone else's will, to turn a person into an obedient tool," the expert explained.

Characteristic of toxic personalities is the underestimation of the importance of the achievements of others and hypocrisy: demonstrative friendliness in personal contact is replaced by backbiting behind their back.

"Toxics gather around themselves a "retinue" - people who support them and solve their problems. They weave a web of dependence, in which those around them become emotional donors. They also use the position of a victim. Toxic people always suffer. This helps them to evoke pity in others and avoid responsibility," the specialist added.

To protect against destructive influence, Lazareva advises building psychological barriers: defining clear boundaries of communication, avoiding involvement in manipulative games, resisting pressure through guilt or false compassion. If contact causes rejection, the optimal solution would be to gradually reduce interaction to a minimum level.

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