The 2 Overarching Factors That Determine How Likable Someone Is, According To Research
Likability comes down to two major components.
Syda Productions | Canva Being more likable could mean more support and opportunities for you. So should you care about being liked by others? Most definitely. But there’s an important nuance to this ideology that needs to be talked about.
You should care about being liked by others on the macro, not on the micro. When you think about the micro, you shouldn’t care about being liked by others. This would mean that:
- You shouldn't care about what people might think of a single decision of yours. If you truly believe what you’re doing is right for you and doesn’t harm others, do it even if people dislike you for it.
- You shouldn’t care about what a single person thinks about you.
When people care about being liked on the micro, they do stupid things — like making decisions based on the opinions of one single individual they’re trying to please. That said, when we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, the perspective begins to shift.
These two factors determine how likable someone is:
1. Whether a person has reasons to be arrogant or not
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According to a 2021 study, arrogance can be caused by factors such as low self-esteem, fear of failure, and a need for validation. Arrogant people may have an inaccurate view of themselves and lack empathy.
2. Whether the person actually is arrogant or not
And when we put them on a cross-table, everything comes into perspective. Behaviors to look for include constantly talking about themselves, putting others down, dismissing opposing viewpoints, showing off excessively, taking little to no responsibility for mistakes, acting superior to others, being overly critical, and exhibiting a lack of empathy.
A 2017 study found that these behaviors indicate a sense of self-importance and a tendency to look down on others.
Photo courtesy of author
Let’s talk about these people one by one. When you read their descriptions, try to think of one example of each in your own life.
Here are the four types of arrogant people:
1. First is the person who has no reason to be arrogant
They haven’t accomplished much in life and don't have gifted genetics. And they’re nice and humble. Of course, everybody likes such people — but they’re not truly significant. They’re just nice.
2. Second is the person who has no reason to be arrogant, but they’re still arrogant
They’re just loudmouths. And these people are most often disliked or even hated by others. It’s as if people are wondering, "What is he/she even arrogant about?"
When someone appears arrogant without reason, it often stems from underlying insecurities or a need to overcompensate for perceived shortcomings. This is a defense mechanism to protect fragile self-esteem.
2023 research found that arrogance can also be linked to psychological concepts like narcissism, low self-awareness, or a desire for external validation. These concepts lead people to project an inflated sense of self-importance to mask their vulnerabilities.
3. Third is the person who has something to be arrogant about — and they’re overly arrogant about it
Imagine the shredded guy who talks as if others are inferior to him. You expect such a person to be arrogant and they end up living up to your expectations. Such people are attractive, but when you get close to them they become repulsive due to their evident egos.
4. Fourth is the person who has a solid reason to be arrogant — but is full of humility instead
A person like this is a nice surprise. That’s because by looking at them from a distance or learning about their accomplishments, you would expect them to be arrogant. But when you talk to them, they display none of it.
These people are extremely likable. So the law is pretty simple. Develop yourself. Become great. Maximize your potential. At the same time, be as humble as you can be.
Accumulate more and more reasons for your arrogance to shoot up — but let your humility shoot through the roof instead. The best example that comes to mind of such a person is Andrew Huberman.
Andrew D. Huberman is a neuroscientist and tenured associate professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. On top of this, he also runs an extraordinary podcast by the name Huberman Lab where he discusses scientific insights for an extraordinary life.
However, if you’ve ever seen any of his podcasts, you’ll see that his words are clad by humility. He has every reason in the world to be an arrogant prick, but he’s one of the most humble humans on the planet instead. That’s why, he’s also one of the most-liked people.
And so, while social likability is an enormous topic with thousands and millions of different nuances, this overarching law gives you a pretty decent understanding of how to be more likable.
Gather many, and major reasons for arrogance — but be humble instead. Believe that you are great — but not greater than anyone.
Many of us are on self-improvement journeys. We’re intentionally trying to become greater versions of ourselves. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s what all of us should do.
That said, we need to remember that arrogance is an instinctual byproduct of any kind of improvement you gather.
When you achieve something, arrogance will ensue. Hence, in addition to being intentional about growing our greatness, we also have to be intentional about chipping away at our arrogance and nurturing our humility instead.
A 2020 study published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes found that a person with a legitimate reason to be arrogant but chooses humility instead might demonstrate a high level of self-awareness, a strong sense of empathy, a desire for genuine connection with others, or a deep understanding that true fulfillment comes from growth and learning rather than external validation. This stems from experiences that taught them the value of humility despite their achievements.
A great way to do this is by remembering this sage advice that Justin Bieber (gasp!) gave to Billie Eilish after she began gathering extraordinary fame:
"Believe [that] you are great but not greater than anyone."
The advice is simply telling us to become great — but to let go of the need to compare our position in life to other people’s. We must remember that different people have different beginnings, different aspirations, different timelines, and different demons.
That’s why, every human’s journey in life is so unique — and incapable of being compared. And when you truly understand that, comparisons become meaningless and arrogance loses its place in your life. So this is how you should go about life.
Focus on developing your greatness. Chip away at the arrogance that ensues. Intentionally nurture your humility instead. Let that humility further boost your greatness. Repeat.
If you do this, you will feel much better about yourself. And the world will love you. Your likeability will shoot through the roof.
Akshad Singi, M.D. has been published in Better Humans, Mind Cafe, and more.