Compliments—love them or hate them, they’re a way we show kindness to each other. Surprisingly, many Americans fall into the “hate” camp. But why does this common act of kindness make us squirm?
A new survey from Preply uncovered exactly how Americans feel about giving and receiving compliments.
How Americans feel about receiving compliments
Despite the pleasantness, compliments don’t always land as they should. In fact, the majority of Americans (70%) are uncomfortable receiving compliments. Why don’t we like hearing nice things about ourselves? For most Americans, it comes down to very relatable anxieties: not wanting to be the center of attention, having low self-esteem, or worrying about appearing arrogant.
Also, around half (49%) of us feel obligated to bounce the compliment ball right back, adding an extra layer of awkwardness into the mix. Cue the insincere compliments, issued by a whopping 41% of those surveyed,that transform a pleasant conversation into a game of white lies. It turns out being nice to each other is a lot more complicated than we thought!
Where Americans are best at giving & receiving compliments
Of all the states across America, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Washington are the closest to mastering the delicate dance of gracefully receiving compliments. And if you’re looking for a hefty dose of flattery, head over to Wisconsin, Florida, and North Carolina for some well-delivered praise.
As far as compliments we actually like to hear, it’s a tight race between “kind” and “intelligent,” with 19 states preferring the former and 17 favoring the latter. The split goes toe-to-toe when broken down by gender: “Kind” is the top compliment women prefer (20%), while “intelligent” is the most preferred by men (20%).
Where Americans are worst at giving & receiving compliments
Looking to give a compliment? You might want to steer clear of Nebraska, Michigan, and Iowa. According to Preply, these states top the charts as the most awkward recipients of praise.
And it goes both ways. Iowa, along with Ohio and Massachusetts, find themselves playing hot potato when it comes to doling out the love. A surprising 43% of respondents admit breaking a sweat when faced with the seemingly simple task of giving a compliment.
But hold onto your hats, because the gender breakdown is where it gets really interesting. Turns out, women are 10% more likely than men to squirm when on the receiving end of praise, with a hefty 75% reporting discomfort compared to 65% of men. So diplomacy might be key when showering your lady friends with compliments. After all, what’s in a compliment if it just makes the person uncomfortable?
The Benefits of CBD for Collapsing Trachea in Dogs(Opens in a new browser tab)
Millennials take the lead with the highest tendency for insincere flattery, followed by Gen Z, Gen X, and then boomers. As you soak in the affection at gatherings with your nearest and dearest, it might be worth considering who’s worth their salt in the compliment game.
And if you’re the one serving up some ingenuine sweet talk, consider taking a step back and thinking about why you do it. Wearing your heart on your sleeve can be scary, but nothing beats authenticity.
Discussion about this post