{"id":15734,"date":"2025-07-20T11:00:46","date_gmt":"2025-07-20T15:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/?p=15734"},"modified":"2025-07-09T02:07:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T06:07:54","slug":"if-someone-only-talks-about-themselves-its-a-sign-they-lack-social-skills-according-to-experts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/psychology\/miscellany-and-curiosities\/if-someone-only-talks-about-themselves-its-a-sign-they-lack-social-skills-according-to-experts-15734\/","title":{"rendered":"If someone only talks about themselves, it’s a sign they lack social skills, according to experts"},"content":{"rendered":"

When someone dominates every conversation with stories about themselves, it’s not just annoying\u2014it might be a red flag for something deeper. According to psychologists, compulsive self-focus in conversations is often a sign of poor social awareness and underdeveloped communication skills<\/strong>. It’s not always rooted in narcissism. Sometimes, it’s simply a lack of practice in the art of genuine dialogue.<\/p>\n

Here, we’ll look at why some people can’t stop talking about themselves<\/strong>. We’ll also cover a few ways to handle these situations without losing your patience. Research shows this behavior often stems from a mix of personal habits, cultural influence, and emotional needs. Psychologist Sidney Jourard<\/strong><\/a> called it “irresponsible self-expressiveness”, where people confuse dumping words with making a connection.<\/p>\n

Why some people only talk about themselves<\/h2>\n

People who constantly talk about themselves aren’t necessarily egomaniacs. More often, they’re just unaware<\/strong>. They lack the basic social skill of turn-taking, a rule most of us learn in kindergarten. These “talkaholics” often don’t pick up on the subtle cues\u2014shifting body language, slower nods, glazed-over eyes, or looking at the phone<\/strong><\/a>\u2014that signal someone else wants to speak or isn’t engaged.<\/p>\n

One big reason for this behavior is cultural. In word-heavy societies like the US, fast talkers are often seen as smart and charismatic<\/strong>. This can reinforce the idea that the more you speak, the more impressive you seem. In reality, the opposite is usually true: good listeners tend to make the best conversationalists.<\/p>\n

Some people are driven by a deep need to be heard, and mistake attention for connection<\/strong>, while others are just socially clumsy\u2014they don’t realize that conversations aren’t monologues<\/strong>. They may over-explain or include too many pointless details, not realizing their audience has checked out. And when people don’t get clear feedback, they keep going, unaware that they’ve lost their listener.<\/p>\n

There’s also what experts call “shift-response”: the habit of constantly shifting the conversation back to themself<\/strong>. This makes room for their story, their opinion, and their experience while squeezing others out. These people may believe they’re relating to you, but what they’re doing is talking over you.<\/p>\n

How to deal with self-absorbed talkers<\/h2>\n

Once you recognize the behavior, it’s easier to respond. The goal isn’t to shame the person but to protect your time and energy while steering the conversation toward something more mutual. Here’s how:<\/p>\n