12 Toxic Traits Of People Who Will Betray You Without Hesitation

These traits signal a person who won’t hesitate to betray you.

Two women are sitting at a table in a cafe. One with a red shirt gestures while speaking, appearing engaged in conversation. The other, facing away, listens attentively. A glass and a few items are on the table, with blurred outdoor scenery in the background.

If you’ve ever been betrayed by someone, you may kick yourself for not seeing red flag behavior when it arose, as there must have been some signs of their imminent betrayal. Watch out for the 12 traits listed here if you’d like to avoid similar experiences in the future.

1. Lack of empathy.

A woman with shoulder-length red hair is standing against a plain white background. She is wearing a white outfit and gazing directly at the camera with a neutral expression. One hand is slightly lifting the edge of her top.

Those who are likely to betray others often show a noted lack of empathy about the suffering of others. If someone else is going through hardship or pain, they don’t really care. If a situation doesn’t affect them personally, they don’t see why they should be emotionally invested in it.

2. Straight-out lying.

Woman with hoop earrings conversing with a man in a dimly lit cafe. She gestures with her hand, appearing engaged in the discussion. The background is softly blurred with decorative lights.

You may have photographic evidence that this person attended an event that they swore they weren’t going to, yet they’ll insist that it was just someone who looked like them. Alternatively, an item of yours might go missing, and this person will suddenly have one just like it that their parents gave them.

3. Self-serving actions.

A woman with long hair, wearing a crown, sits at a table with a coffee cup in front of her. She is making a playful, confident expression while pointing at herself with both thumbs. The background is slightly blurred, suggesting an indoor café setting.

They don’t care about anyone else’s needs or preferences, and focus entirely on getting their own desires met. They’ll insist on getting food that they like regardless of others’ dietary restrictions, and won’t hesitate to take actions that’ll break another’s curfew or personal boundaries. Everything is all about them.

4. Abrupt personality changes, especially if they don’t get what they want.

Three people are having a discussion outdoors. One man in a red shirt appears animated, gesturing with his hands. Two women, one holding papers and a phone, listen. They stand near trees, with sunlight filtering through the leaves.

They might be incredibly sweet and complimentary one moment, when they’re trying to convince you to do something with them (or for them), but as soon as they realize that they aren’t going to get their own way, their entire demeanor instantly shifts to anger, coldness, or weaponized victimhood.

5. Unawareness of how their own actions affect others.

A woman with long blonde hair and a dark shirt sits on a bed, shrugging with a playful, puzzled expression. She faces another person with short dark hair who is slightly out of focus. In the background, there are shelves, a clock, and a window letting in light.

They’ll double down on poor behaviors that have damaged other people, insisting that they “didn’t do anything wrong”. For example, they may not see the problem in taking a video of someone being beaten and sharing it on social media, because they weren’t being physically violent. In their mind, they did no wrong.

6. Misdirection.

Two women sit at an outdoor cafe table, engaged in conversation. One woman, wearing a floral dress and statement necklace, is talking animatedly with gestures. The other woman, in a colorful patterned shirt, is holding a white coffee cup near her mouth.

If others try to delve into their lives, they’ll redirect the conversation or straight out lie in order to avoid disclosing anything. They might even cause a fight or otherwise create drama that’ll derail the discussion, hoping those around them will discontinue that line of questioning.

7. They don’t talk about future plans with you.

Two women are sitting at a cafe table, engaged in conversation. One woman is holding a blue coffee cup, while the other has a black cup on the table. Both are dressed warmly, with scarves. The background features a window with bright daylight outside.

You might have heard that they’re planning to go to the Caribbean with some other people to escape the worst of winter weather, but if you bring up the topic, they’ll change the subject. Similarly, if you talk about an event you’re planning, they might nod and smile but won’t engage.

8. Effusive flattery.

Two young women sit casually on a concrete ledge outdoors. Both are dressed in jeans and casual tops, engaged in a relaxed conversation. The background features buildings and a blue sky, suggesting an urban setting. One woman is smiling while the other listens attentively.

Occasional compliments from friends are lovely to receive, and if they’re infrequent, and offered sincerely, they can mean a great deal. In contrast, people who are likely to betray you will offer over-abundant flattery, complimenting you on just about everything in an over-the-top, saccharine manner that’s utterly insincere.

9. They want to know everything about you, but avoid revealing personal details.

A man in a blue suit, bow tie, and glasses is sitting at a table in a restaurant, engaging in conversation with a woman with blonde hair, who is turned away from the camera. The table has a metal cup and some food items on it.

Watch out for people who ask a lot of questions about your personal life but refuse to disclose any of their own. They might ask for minute details, like your kids’ birthdays, your pets, your workplace, and so on, but brush off your inquiries by saying they don’t want to bore you.

10. Showing ulterior motives.

Four women in colorful retro clothing engaged in an animated conversation. The older woman on the left has white hair and wears pearls. The woman in the center right, with afro-textured hair, appears to be making a surprised or expressive face. The others listen intently.

This person may not have reached out to you for ages, and suddenly invites you out for coffee. Once you’re in their car, however, they’ll tell you that they just needed you to be their alibi: they’re actually having a rendezvous with a lover and don’t want their spouse to find out.

11. Pushing to get close too quickly.

Two women are sitting indoors, engaged in conversation. One woman, with long brown hair, is smiling and listening intently to the other woman, who is speaking. The setting appears casual and well-lit by natural light.

You might have only known this person a short time, but they seem far too eager to be close to you. They might try to spend as much time with you as possible, give you gifts, call you by a nickname: all things that usually take years of friendship to cultivate.

12. They don’t have any close friends.

A woman with long blonde hair sits alone in a modern restaurant, resting her chin on her hands and looking thoughtfully into the distance. The restaurant features green plants and wooden tables with green glasses, creating a serene atmosphere.

Most people have at least a few close friends within their social circle. In contrast, those who have repeatedly betrayed those close to them will have alienated just about everyone they knew. As such, all their acquaintances seem to be people who have only known them a short time.