7 Shocking Signs a Man’s “Niceness” Is Just a Clever Mask, According to Psychology
In private, it’s a different story. The thoughtful gestures disappear, and suddenly, that considerate guy isn’t so considerate anymore. Psychology refers to this as impression management—a way of controlling how others perceive them while doing the bare minimum when no one is looking.
I talk about this kind of behavior in Breaking The Attachment: How To Overcome Codependency in Your Relationship, especially how it connects to codependency.
When someone’s kindness feels performative, it can make you question your own standards for what real care and support should look like. And the truth is, genuine kindness doesn’t need an audience—it just is.
