12 Jedi Mind Tricks To Repel Toxic People Without Them Even Knowing

Fend off toxic people with these simple approaches.

A man with black hair and glasses stands in front of a purple background. He is wearing a blue blazer and a white shirt, extending his hands forward with a cautious or defensive expression.

Dealing with toxic people is inevitable at times, but there are ways to repel them without their awareness. The 12 techniques that follow can help to create a shield that keeps toxic folks at bay, and they’re unlikely to realize that you’re even doing them.

1. Deflect with humor.

A person with shoulder-length wavy hair laughs heartily while holding their chest and stomach. They are wearing a short-sleeved denim dress and standing on a city street with buildings and a bus in the background.

Most of the toxic people you’ll encounter don’t know how to respond when someone uses humor with them. This is especially true if they’re agony aunts who revel in all things dark and dismal. Consistently responding with humor will make them uncomfortable, and they’ll likely try to avoid you in future.

2. Go “grey rock”.

A grayscale image of an older man with light hair, sitting in a leather chair. He is wearing a long-sleeve button-up shirt and has a contemplative expression, with his chin resting on his hand and looking slightly to the side. The background is dark and plain.

This is a technique that works effectively on narcissists, but it also works on any toxic individual. Basically, you behave as though you were a slab of grey stone: utterly immovable, devoid of emotion. If you don’t give them the feedback or energy that they want, they’ll have no use for you.

3. Bore them.

A woman with short hair is sitting at a table, resting her elbow on the table and her head on her hand while yawning. A person with a blurred face is seated across from her. The background includes blurred decor and a window.

If you’re forced to interact with a toxic person, neutralize your voice to a slow drone and talk to them about the most boring thing you can drum up, whether it’s the intricacies of Roman sewer construction or how you don’t like synthetic socks because they give you bunions.

4. Ask unrelentingly positive questions.

Two women sitting outside on a bench. The woman on the right with red hair is smiling and gesturing with her hands, while the woman on the left with brown hair appears unimpressed, looking away with a slight smirk.

Those who thrive on negativity get frustrated and annoyed in the face of unfailing positivity. Any time they complain to you in search of sympathy, find the silver lining and be Super! Enthusiastic! About! It! They’ll get so disgusted with your bubbliness that they’ll wander off in search of misery.

5. Be relentlessly supportive while simultaneously maintaining distance.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair is smiling broadly and giving two thumbs up. She is wearing a white tank top and standing against a bright yellow background.

A perfect example of this would be if they come whining to you about needing help with something, and you respond with: “You know, if anyone else came to me about this, I wouldn’t think they could handle it, but you’re the most capable person I know. You’ll do great!”

6. Pull the rug out from their stance with logic and reason.

A man in a green shirt sits on a couch, gesturing with his hands while talking to another person whose back is to the camera. They appear to be having a conversation in a cozy living room setting.

If they start griping about a topic that you know they like to moan about, undermine whatever they say with a logical argument. When they realize that they aren’t going to get anywhere with you on these subjects, they’ll seek the responses and energy they need from someone else.

7. Redirect their energy elsewhere and then do not engage again.

A woman and man are engaged in a serious conversation in an office setting. The woman, on the left, is gesturing with her hands, while the man, on the right, is responding with a focused expression and hand gestures. Both are dressed in business attire.

If someone comes to you with a complaint, you simply use an energetic judo-like move and channel that complaint elsewhere. “I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this right now! Our mutual friend Theresa is a therapist and I’m sure she can help you out with it.” Then end the conversation.

8. Avoid their barbs by asking for their advice instead.

A person with long hair wearing a white T-shirt and blue plaid shirt gestures with their right hand while speaking. They are indoors, and behind them are shelves with potted plants and a table. The image captures a moment of conversation.

If they make scathing comments about what you’re doing, wearing, or eating, turn it around and ask their advice or opinion on something. For example, if a colleague mocks your takeout lunch, mention how their meal looks AMAZING and ask if they made it. They’ll forget the insults and will brag instead.

9. Find out what they hate, and revel in it.

Two men in business attire engaging in a heated discussion. The man on the left, wearing a blue suit and green tie, points his finger at the other man, who is dressed in a black suit. They stand in a hallway with glass walls.

Does this person hate the scent of mint? Eat mints when you talk to them and they’ll wander off. Do they dislike classical music? If you need to have a phone conversation with them, make sure you have opera playing in the background and they’ll limit time with you accordingly.

10. Create physical barriers between you.

A woman in a formal black blazer and white shirt holds a piece of paper while leaning towards a man sitting at a desk, seemingly in a serious conversation. The man, dressed in a light blue shirt, sits facing her. They are in a brightly lit office.

When and if you interact with these people in person, make sure there’s some type of physical barrier keeping distance between you. This could be a desk or table, for example. This will create a strong physical boundary on a subconscious level, and they’ll associate you with distance from now on.

11. Agree with them.

Three young women sit at an outdoor café table, engaged in a lively conversation. Each has a cup of coffee in front of them. The woman in the middle is holding a yellow smartphone and smiling. Urban buildings are visible in the background.

Toxic people like to prey on the discord they can sow. They thrive on emotions like anger, fear, and sorrow, and they like to antagonize others with topics that they think will affect them. By agreeing with them, you take the wind out of their sails, leaving them adrift and confused.

12. Change the subject by jarringly interrupting with something unhinged.

Two women are standing outside in conversation. The woman on the right, wearing a black and white striped top, has her eyes closed and hand raised as if making a point. The woman on the left, with dark hair, is facing away from the camera.

When the toxic nightmare you’re talking to starts going on about a subject that’s destroying your will to live, change the subject in a jarring manner by mentioning something completely deranged. They’ll forget what they were talking about and will likely walk away from you, avoiding eye contact.