Small-Minded People With Very Little Empathy Are Known To Say 9 Phrases In Casual Conversation
Guillermo Berlin | Pexels When someone is open-minded, they're not just intelligent but are flexible when it comes to embracing the world around them.
On the other hand, small-minded people can't handle stepping out of their comfort zone or expressing empathy for others. They need comfort and ease, and while their behaviors are obvious, you can spot a small-minded person by the casual phrases they say.
Phrases small-minded people with little empathy are known to say
1. 'Get over it'
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People with little empathy don't care to create safe spaces for anyone. They expect everybody else to comfort them through minor inconveniences and drop what they're to put their feelings on a pedestal. But when it comes to showing up for others, "get over it" is the best they've got.
That's why these people struggle to form happy, healthy relationships with others, because they're not interested in understanding or supporting anyone's emotions except their own. They're not only avoidant of someone else's feelings, but actively invalidate them in the name of personal convenience and comfort.
2. 'I'm so done with this conversation'
Many small-minded people are avoidant because it offers instant relief from their complicated emotions or conflicts. They don't have the emotional awareness to face them head-on.
Not only are avoidant people more dysregulated inside, but they create more stress and turmoil for themselves over time by running from hard conversations and interactions.
When someone brings up an issue, their immediate response is to run. Whether that comes through a phrase like "I'm so done with this conversation" or a defensive one like "Why are you always attacking me?" they simply can't handle it.
3. 'You never listen to me'
If they can't run from a conversation or flip the narrative to protect their own comfort, a person without empathy has no problem attacking others. They're immediately on the defensive because even harmless boundaries and expressions of emotions come off as an insult when they're feeling insecure.
Someone with a different perspective feels like something they have to defend themselves against. Their comfort zone and personal beliefs are held so closely to their chest.
4. 'Why would I do that?'
Many small-minded people can't conceptualize why someone would willingly try something new or put themselves at risk of making a mistake. To them, embarrassment is something to actively avoid, instead of a sign that they're growing through discomfort and newness.
They almost always say things like "Why would I do that?" when someone asks them to challenge themselves. In their minds, ease and comfort are the top priorities.
5. 'You're embarrassing yourself'
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Fearing embarrassment and doing everything they can to avoid it is commonplace for a small-minded person. Their world revolves around comfort and staying completely stagnant.
When they say "you're embarrassing yourself," it's to cope with their own insecurity. They want other people to feel bad for making mistakes so they can justify avoiding them entirely at their own expense.
It's essentially a mode of projection, where they feel better about themselves when they can break down someone who's clearly secure and growing.
6. 'I've tried that already'
When someone with a small mind says "I've tried that already," what they usually mean is "I made a mistake already, and I'm not willing to again." They don't try new things and stick to what they know.
So, when someone offers up a challenge or asks them to step out of their comfort zone, a past mistake feels like enough of an excuse to avoid it entirely. Even though this keeps them stuck, they feel like they're protecting themselves by avoiding discomfort.
7. 'You're wrong'
People with rigid mindsets tend to experience worsened mental health for a reason. They don't allow themselves to grow by having conversations about different perspectives, and often miss out on opportunities to grow their empathy around people who don't live the same lives they do.
They'd prefer to live in an echo chamber of their own shared values and views, even if it keeps them stuck in an unhappy place. You may rarely interact with someone like this if you're open-minded and intelligent, but you can spot them by these off-putting phrases.
8. 'They're not like us'
Open-minded people lead with empathy, even around those they don't agree with or understand. They're in the game of learning and growing, not protecting their comfort. With every hard conversation or interaction they have with someone new, they grow.
Unfortunately, someone who's chronically small-minded prefers to demonize people who are different. Even if that means bringing them down or avoiding them completely, they feel better when they feel like a part of the "in" group.
9. 'You just don't get it'
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Instead of making an effort to understand someone who doesn't agree with them or share their views, these people assume they're wrong. "You don't get it" and "you're wrong" are how they cope with differences, even if there are opportunities for them to learn and change their minds.
Empathetic people try to understand others, even when it means confronting their own views. Small-minded people prefer to put their own views on a pedestal and defend against anyone who challenges them.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a senior editorial strategist with a bachelor's degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
