Do you ever feel like a conversation turns into a one-person show? There’s actually a name for that. It’s called “conversational narcissism.”
It’s like Bette Midler’s famous line from the movie “Beaches” . . . “But enough about me, let’s talk about you . . . what do you think of me?”
A professor of psychiatry said it’s like a game of catch where one person never throws the ball back.
Here are the biggest signs experts say to watch for:
1. The “Shift Response” . . . It’s where you share something, and they immediately shift it to themselves. No follow up questions, just right back to talking about them.
2. The “Pretending to Listen” Look . . . You can tell they’re not really listening. They’re just waiting for your mouth to stop moving so they can jump in.
3. The “Constant One-Upper” . . . This person is the worst. Whether you have good news or bad news, they’ll always top it.
If you’re ever unsure, just ask yourself this one question: Do you feel drained after? Because if you walk away feeling exhausted or unheard, that’s a big clue. But experts say it’s not always ego that drives conversational narcissism. Sometimes it’s just nerves or insecurity.