While you may believe that cataloging what makes a man or woman unattractive is a never-ending task – not to mention entirely subjective – there’s some commonality to be found.

Truth #1: Personality traits exist that are nearly universally unattractive.

Truth #2: Nearly every undesirable trait can broken down to a more fundamental nature.

This brings us to this article.

The exciting thing about the personality characteristics on this list is that they are nearly all-encompassing. In other words, they may carry different meanings for different people in different situations.

To quickly illustrate this point, consider “disorganization,” one of the traits on this list. One can be disorganized mentally, physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. One can be personally disorganized or haphazardly approach their relationships.

With that said!

Here are six traits that most people find unattractive:


1. Arrogance

It’s common to mistake arrogance for confidence – at least in the beginning. The person may act as if they’ve got everything figured out, usually communicated by acting (unnaturally) confident, never showing insecurity or vulnerability, and bragging non-stop.

It’s quickly discovered, however, that there’s little substance behind this arrogant mask. Arrogance is unattractive for a number one reason; one of them being that it can morph into so many other undesirables: cattiness, egotism, self-aggrandizement, and rudeness, among others.

“An arrogant person considers himself perfect. This is the chief harm of arrogance. It interferes with a person’s main task in life – becoming a better person.” Leo Tolstoy

2. Controlling or Jealous Behavior

Control is jealousy’s close cousin. The two traits are pretty much inseparable.

Think about it: if a person is jealous, how will they compensate for – what is perceived as – some personal loss? Oftentimes, they’ll try and right the ship by seizing control. Worse yet, the situation can be dangerous if the controlling behaviors become emotionally or physically abusive.

The truth is that being in (any kind) of a relationship with a jealous, controlling person rarely works. It’s best to walk away before things get uglier.

3. Disorganization

If you’re a person who (rightfully) takes pride in having your affairs in order, a close relationship with someone incompetent in this area may be difficult.

To be reasonable, we’re all a bit disorganized at times – we’ll forget about a bill, run late, or look a bit disheveled once in a while. That’s not what we’re talking about.

We’re talking about people whose lives are perpetually disorganized. These folks are always late, never pay their bills, forget to call, never seen an iron, and whose home looks like a natural disaster hit it.

Unless they’re a 20-year-old living in a dorm, there’s no excuse.

4. Inattentiveness/Inability to listen

There’s not paying attention because you’re anxious or tired, and then there’s not paying attention because you don’t give a crap.

If you’re a good listener, you certainly understand the frustrations of trying to converse with someone with the attention span of a fruit fly. (It’s one of the most annoyingly rude things ever.)

People who are deserving of your attention should receive it unless they’ve given you a good reason. Another frustrating variation of inattentiveness/inability to listen is interrupting or walking away when someone’s speaking.

5. Irresponsibility

Once again, a caveat: none of us deserve a responsibility halo beaming from atop our heads. We’ve all screwed up on our responsibilities (it happens to the best of us!).

But is that irresponsibility coming from a lack of effort? If so, there’s no rational excuse. If you’ve been fair – say, reminded the person to do “X” or else “Y” on many-an-occasion – their flat-out inability to take responsibility is to blame.

Irresponsibility is indicative of one’s maturity level. If one is lacking, so is the other.


6. Gossiping

Ugh. Definitely one of the worst personality traits there is. (Pardon if the rest of the article gets a bit testy as a result.)

High school is over! (Unless you’re reading this and still in high school. If so, welcome!)

In all sincerity, gossiping behavior is something that should’ve disappeared the moment you stepped out into the real world on your lonesome.

It’s still astonishing just how much grown adults gossip and what they chatter about. It’s still far too commonplace to walk into some breakroom at work and hear “He said (x)” “She said (y)” “I heard (z).”

Unattractive isn’t a harsh enough word. This is, indeed, an ugly personality trait.

Please, just stop. Whoever you are.