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- [Instructor] Hey Psych2Goers
and welcome back to our channel.
It's only with your support that we can make psychology
and mental health more accessible to everyone.
So thank you for all the love that you've given us.
Now, let's continue.
Have you ever been told that you seem intimidating?
Did it bother you or possibly confuse you
about why they said that?
You might be subconsciously doing certain things
that make your personality come across as more intimidating
than you want it to be.
Please remember that many of these signs and behaviors
aren't negative
and though they might make you seem intimidating,
it doesn't necessarily mean you should change anything
about yourself or who you are.
Wondering if this applies to you?
Here are eight signs that your personality
might be intimidating to others.
Number one, you're snappy or reactive.
Do you snap at people easily?
When you hear about something you don't like,
do you react hastily?
Being snappy can come across as intimidating
because people may feel like you're unapproachable
or difficult to talk to
even when you don't mean to be.
Having strong opinions and snapping at others
when things don't go your way,
might make you seem intimidating.
Next time you find yourself about to snap,
take a step back and take a deep breath before reacting.
You'd be surprised at how quickly you're relaxed
and how much more approachable it'll make you seem.
Number two, you think with your head.
Are you extremely practical?
Do you base most of your decisions on pure logic?
If so, you might be more prone
to thinking with your head
though this quality in itself
doesn't necessarily make you intimidating.
Thinking less with your heart
may make you less emotionally aware in certain situations.
And as a result,
you may come off as having an intimidating personality.
Number three, you're persistent.
Do you set high goals for yourself?
Do you work extremely hard to achieve those goals?
If you do, you're likely a very persistent person
which can be seen as intimidating.
Persistence and perseverance, aren't bad traits.
When you persist, it shows that you have great confidence
in your abilities and it might be intimidating
for others to see that side of you
but you just have big goals
and won't let anything or anyone stand in your way.
Number four, people seem to tiptoe around you.
Have you noticed that people tend to clam up around you
and seem possibly afraid to speak their mind?
They might be tiptoeing around you and are being cautious
and careful about what they say while in your presence.
If you notice this happening to you,
it may seem like people go quiet,
agree with everything you say
and even apologize to you more frequently.
Number five, you tend to dominate conversations.
When you talk with your friends
do you talk the most or the loudest?
This could be a sign
that your personality seems intimidating.
Dominating conversations can look like talking excessively
or more loudly than everyone else
and cutting people off mid-conversation.
When you dominate a conversation,
it can make it harder for others
to express themselves around you.
This is a tendency that can happen subconsciously
and it could even be a sign of anxiety.
So if you relate to this,
don't feel bad or like it's your fault.
Instead try and practice active listening
in your conversations
so you'll be more attentive and present
than how you're acting before.
Number six, you speak in an aggressive tone.
When you talk with others, how do you normally come across?
Are you aggressive and direct
or are you more light and gentle?
No matter what you say, your tone of voice
can make a huge difference in how you're received.
When you speak with an assertive, aggressive
or direct tone, this can come across as intimidating.
This could take a toll
on the way people perceive your ideas and opinions.
Do you find yourself speaking with a tone
that's more aggressive than you'd like?
If so, how do you plan to become more mindful
of how things may be received before you say them?
It might take time, but gradually you'll come across
as more approachable with a more gentle tone.
Number seven, you're critical of others.
When interacting with others, do you tend to judge,
dissect or criticize what they say?
While you may come across as intelligent
you'll likely also come across
as intimidating to be around.
According to psychiatrist, Grant Hilary Brenner,
insulting others during a conversation
even in a joking manner,
can make you come across as judgmental and competitive.
Competitiveness can be off-putting.
So if people feel that way in conversations with you
they may be less likely to view you as approachable.
And number eight, you are straightforward.
Are you unafraid to speak your mind?
Speaking your mind outright
and avoiding dancing around the truth is not a bad thing.
In fact, it can improve communication
in your day-to-day life.
Speaking your mind is a good trait to have
as long as you make sure what you say is tactful
and constructive.
Did you relate to any of the points in this video
or do any of these signs remind you of someone?
Do you have any signs of an intimidating personality
that you'd like to add?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Please like and share this video if it helped you
and you think you could help someone else too.
The studies and references used are listed
in the description below.
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Thanks for watching and we'll see you soon.
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