5 Signs That Someone Is Incredibly Toxic

If you've ever gotten bad vibes from someone, then you know what it is to?recognize that a person is kind of evil. It can happen seemingly anywhere, from a sunny coffee shop to a shady street corner. There you are, living life, and suddenly it's like your blood runs cold.

This is your gut telling you that someone is no good. (Yay, intuition!) Maybe you were chatting with a stranger who clearly didn't have your best intentions at heart. Or maybe you were hanging out with a friend who was trying their damnedest to?manipulate you for personal gain. Whatever the circumstances were, it's great that you were able to recognize the "evil" before anything bad happened.

Of course, you can't assume every mildly creepy person has a cold, dark heart. Some people have been through the wringer in life, and are simply trying their best to interact. As long as no one is getting hurt or upset, then the only thing you can do is tip your hat and walk away. But?what about truly bad people? Like, the ones who are "out to get you"? Below are some signs to watch out for so you can steer clear, and keep yourself safe.

1. They Take Pleasure in Other People's Misfortune

You trip and they laugh hysterically. There's bad news on TV, and they get out the popcorn. This, um...?happy?reaction to other people's misfortune is known as schadenfreude. It's defined as "exquisite joy and smug satisfaction from contemplating and?reveling in the misfortune of others," according to Adrian Furnham, Ph.D. on?Psychology Today. Pretty creepy, to say the least.

?2. They Make You Feel... Strange

Bad people — AKA those who don't have your best interests at heart — can give off some mighty weird vibes. It can be so strong, in fact, that your intuition kicks in and tells you to GTFO. "If something feels off or if a 'friend' makes you feel uncomfortable, trust your gut...?Intuition is a powerful force?that should never be ignored," said Michele Corvi on HuffingtonPost.com. I couldn't agree more.

?3. They Are Mean To Animals

Anyone who is mean to animals sucks. There's no doubt about that. But did you know that it's almost always a predictor of deeper issues? "Since the 1970s, research has consistently reported childhood cruelty to animals?as the first warning sign of later delinquency, violence, and criminal behavior," noted Joni E. Johnston, Psy.D. On?Psychology Today. Whether the cruelty happened 30 years ago, or five minutes ago, take it as a clear sign that this person is bad news.

4. They Use Humor to Insult You

There's nothing funny about being a complete jerk, and yet jerks tend to?use humor to knock others down. Think of the classic movie bully who gets the whole school laughing by making someone the brunt of a joke. Not cool.

5. They Lie?All the Time

We all tell little white lies — about why we're late to work, or why we're "too busy" to hang out. It's usually no big deal. But evil types take their lying to the next level and even engage in some expert lying tactics. They might, for example, be super truthful as a way of building people's trust. Then they'll unleash some lies?when trying to get their way, according to Jeff Wise on?Psychology Today. How incredibly manipulative.

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