what is negging in dating

Negging is a toxic dating trend that involves giving backhanded compliments or comments to undermine someones confidence. It is a form of emotional manipulation that can be used to make someone feel vulnerable and question themselves. Negging can be disguised as constructive criticism, but it is actually a low-grade insult that attempts to knock someone down a peg by belittling or attacking their positive qualities, such as their physical appearance, intellect, academic accomplishments, careers, hobbies, talents, sense of style, or natural charisma. It is a red flag in a relationship and can be a sign of insecurity. Negging is a type of verbal emotional abuse that can lower a person's self-esteem. It is notoriously hard to spot because it is done under the guise of flirting or being funny. However, it is important to recognize negging for what it is and to avoid people who use this tactic in dating or any other type of relationship.