Social skills don’t come naturally to everyone, and many people struggle with interactions that others find effortless. Whether it’s a friend, colleague, family member, or even yourself, understanding these social challenges is the first step toward creating more comfortable connections. In this guide, we’ll explore fourteen common types of socially awkward behaviors and offer practical, compassionate ways to help.
1. The Non-Stop Talker
You know them immediately—the person who launches into a monologue the moment you say hello and doesn’t come up for air until you’ve mentally planned your entire week’s grocery list. They’re not necessarily self-centered; they’re often just nervous or enthusiastic, filling silence with a stream of consciousness that leaves no room for response. For them, talking is a comfort zone, and they don’t realize that conversation is meant to be a tennis match, not a solo performance.
If you’re dealing with a non-stop talker, gentle interruption can be an act of compassion, as Psychology Today points out. Try touching their arm lightly while saying, “That reminds me of something I wanted to ask you about…” This redirects without shutting them down completely. If you’re the talker, practice taking a breath after expressing a thought and explicitly invite others to respond. Setting a mental timer can help—speak for no more than a minute before passing the conversational baton.
2. The Awkward Joke Repeater
There’s nothing quite like watching someone double down on a joke that didn’t land the first time. The awkward joke repeater often uses humor as their primary social currency but hasn’t quite mastered reading the room. When their punchline falls flat, instead of moving on, they explain it, repeat it, or make increasingly desperate attempts to get the laugh they were counting on. What they don’t realize is that humor requires timing and audience awareness—skills that improve with practice and feedback.
If you’re helping someone who falls into this category, offer genuine laughs when they’re truly funny, which reinforces what works. When a joke bombs, a quick “Speaking of that…” can smoothly transition the conversation without dwelling on the awkwardness. If you recognize yourself here, remember that the best comedians bomb sometimes too. Practice letting go when a joke doesn’t land and have a few conversation pivots ready to deploy. Your willingness to move on gracefully is often more impressive than landing every joke.
3. The Chronic Interrupter
Conversations with a chronic interrupter feel like trying to speak during a windstorm—nearly impossible and incredibly frustrating. They jump in mid-sentence, finish your thoughts (often incorrectly), and redirect discussions before points are fully made. Most interrupters aren’t being deliberately rude; according to Verywell Mind, they’re usually excited, impatient, or worried they’ll forget their point if they don’t speak up immediately. Some may even believe they’re showing engagement rather than disrespect.
If you’re helping an interrupter become more socially aware, try a gentle “I’d like to finish this thought” while continuing to speak, or establish a conversation rule like “Let’s each take two minutes to share our perspectives uninterrupted.” If you catch yourself interrupting others, practice writing down your thoughts while listening so you don’t feel the urgency to blurt them out. Remember that giving someone your full attention isn’t just polite—it builds trust and shows that you value their perspective as much as your own.
4. The Oversharer
Within minutes of meeting an oversharer, you might learn about their recent divorce, childhood trauma, medical history, and detailed financial situation. While most people gradually reveal personal information as trust builds, the oversharer skips these normal boundaries, creating instant intimacy that often leaves others feeling uncomfortable. They typically aren’t trying to make others squirm—they’re usually seeking connection, validation, simply don’t recognize where appropriate disclosure ends, or as Psychology Today notes, really nervous.
If you’re helping an oversharer develop better social awareness, redirect with questions about lighter topics when conversations venture into TMI territory. Model appropriate levels of disclosure in your own responses. If you tend toward oversharing, try the traffic light system: green topics (hobbies, general opinions) are safe for new acquaintances, yellow topics (personal challenges, political views) for budding friendships, and red topics (intimate details, deep traumas) only for trusted confidants. Remember that true intimacy develops gradually—rushing it often achieves the opposite of the connection you’re seeking.
5. The Silent Observer
In every social gathering, there’s often someone quietly watching from the periphery, taking everything in but rarely contributing. The silent observer isn’t necessarily shy—sometimes they’re introverted, processing internally, or simply unsure how to join the conversational flow. Their silence is frequently misinterpreted as disinterest or judgment, when in reality, they may be the most attentive person in the room, absorbing every word and dynamic at play.
To help a silent observer feel more comfortable participating, try direct but low-pressure invitations: “Jennifer, you mentioned working on similar projects before—what was your experience like?” If you’re the quiet one in social settings, remember that most people love thoughtful listeners and will appreciate your insights precisely because you don’t overcontribute. Start small by preparing one or two conversation points before social events, or use questions as your entry point. Your measured contributions often carry more weight precisely because they’re not constant.
6. The Constant Arguer
Every statement becomes a debate opportunity for the constant arguer. Whether discussing politics or pizza toppings, they’re ready to take the opposite position and defend it vigorously. Their conversation style feels more like verbal sparring than friendly discussion, leaving others exhausted and sometimes offended. Often, they don’t realize they’re creating tension—they may come from families where debate was the primary form of engagement, or they might believe they’re simply being intellectually rigorous.
If you’re helping a constant arguer shift their approach, acknowledge their point before gently noting: “That’s an interesting perspective. For this conversation, though, I’m looking more for support than debate.” If you recognize these tendencies in yourself, try practicing agreement before disagreement—find something you can genuinely affirm before offering counterpoints. Ask yourself: “Is this worth debating, or am I arguing out of habit?” Remember that most social conversations aren’t about winning points but building connections, which requires flexibility and sometimes letting things go even when you don’t fully agree.
7. The Perpetual Name Forgetter
There’s a special kind of dread that comes with seeing someone approach who clearly knows you, while your mind races through a mental Rolodex and comes up empty. The perpetual name forgetters are not being dismissive or uncaring—they’re often dealing with face blindness (also known as “prosopagnosia,” according to the Cleveland Clinic), anxiety that blocks recall, or simply meeting too many people in quick succession. Yet few social faux pas make others feel as instantly devalued as having their name repeatedly forgotten.
If you’re helping someone who struggles with names, suggest memory techniques like immediately repeating a new name in conversation or creating visual associations. If you’re the one who forgets, honesty works better than fake recognition—a simple “I remember our great conversation about travel, but I’m blanking on your name” acknowledges the connection while addressing the gap. Make a habit of using people’s names when saying goodbye to reinforce the memory, and consider jotting down quick notes about people after meetings. With practice and systems, this skill improves dramatically.
8. The Text-Only Communicator
In an increasingly digital world, some people have mastered emoji-based conversations but freeze up completely during face-to-face interactions. The text-only communicator often seems like two different people—witty and engaged via messages, but awkward and withdrawn in person. Without the buffer of a screen to compose thoughts, edit responses, and use helpful visuals, they struggle with the spontaneity and nonverbal elements of in-person communication.
To help someone bridge the digital-physical divide, suggest activities that provide natural conversation structure, like games or volunteer work, where interaction has built-in prompts. If you’re more comfortable behind a screen, practice transferring your digital communication strengths to in-person settings by preparing conversation topics in advance. Use the same curiosity that makes you a good texter to ask thoughtful questions in person. Remember that face-to-face communication gives you advantages too—you can read reactions in real time and adjust accordingly, something texting can never fully replace.
9. The Overthinker
For the overthinker, a simple “let’s get coffee sometime” invitation launches a mental spiral of analyzing possible dates, locations, conversation topics, appropriate clothing choices, and exit strategies. What others handle with spontaneous ease becomes an anxiety-producing chess game where they’re constantly calculating their next move. This exhausting internal process often leaves them seeming hesitant, rigid, or overly formal in situations where everyone else appears relaxed.
If you’re supporting an overthinker, clear communication works wonders—specific plans rather than vague suggestions help quiet the endless possibilities their mind generates. If you’re the one overthinking social situations, try setting limits on your planning time and remind yourself that perfect interactions don’t exist. Practice “social exposure” by deliberately placing yourself in low-stakes situations like chatting with baristas or store clerks where brief, unplanned interactions help build confidence. Remember that while others might seem effortlessly social, most people are thinking about themselves, not critically analyzing your every word and gesture.
10. The Competitive Storyteller
Just finished sharing about your challenging hike? The competitive storyteller immediately launches into their story about climbing Kilimanjaro—barefoot. This person turns conversations into contests, where your experiences merely serve as jumping-off points for their more extreme, more impressive anecdotes. Their behavior often stems from insecurity rather than arrogance—they’re trying to establish value and connection but haven’t learned that one-upmanship actually creates distance rather than respect.
To help a competitive storyteller develop more balanced conversation skills, explicitly appreciate their stories but then redirect: “That’s amazing—you’ve had such unique experiences. I’m also curious what you thought about the original point about…” If you recognize this tendency in yourself, practice the 2:1 rule—show twice as much interest in others’ experiences before sharing your own. Ask follow-up questions rather than waiting for your turn to speak. The paradox is that people will find you more impressive when you show genuine interest in them than when you try to prove your own worth through competitive storytelling.
11. The Unintentional Offender
They meant to compliment your presentation but somehow mentioned how surprised they were that it was actually good. The unintentional offender regularly leaves conversational wreckage in their wake, genuinely confused about why people seem upset. They often miss cultural context, struggle with reading emotional cues, or grew up in environments with very different communication norms. Their foot-in-mouth moments aren’t malicious, but the impact can be just as hurtful as intentional insults.
When helping someone who frequently causes offense, private, specific feedback is key: “When you said X, it might have come across as Y because…” If you find yourself frequently unintentionally offending others, develop the habit of pausing before commenting on sensitive topics like appearance, abilities, or personal choices. Listen more than you speak in unfamiliar social contexts, and when you make a misstep (everyone does), a simple, direct apology without excessive justification goes a long way. Remember that becoming more socially aware is a process—being open to feedback shows more strength than pretending to have perfect social skills.
12. The Excessive Apologizer
A bumped elbow, a millisecond pause in the conversation, an opinion that differs slightly from others—for the excessive apologizer, these all trigger immediate, heartfelt “I’m sorry.” Their constant apologies stem from anxiety about taking up space, fear of disapproval, or past experiences where they were frequently criticized. While they hope their apologetic nature comes across as considerate, it often makes others uncomfortable and undermines their own authority and presence.
To help an excessive apologizer build confidence, gently point out unnecessary apologies and reframe them: “You don’t need to apologize for having a different perspective—that’s what makes conversations interesting.” If you’re working on your own over-apologizing habit, try replacing “sorry” with more assertive alternatives: “Thanks for your patience” instead of “Sorry I’m late” or “I appreciate your understanding” rather than “Sorry to bother you.” Practice owning your right to exist in spaces without constant verbal penance. Save your apologies for situations that truly warrant them—they’ll carry more weight when they’re not diluted by constant use.
13. The Conversation Killer
There’s a particular awkwardness that descends when someone responds to your enthusiastic “I just started taking guitar lessons!” with a flat “Oh” and nothing more. The conversation killer isn’t necessarily trying to end interactions—they often simply don’t understand the reciprocal nature of dialogue or struggle with generating follow-up questions. Their brief, closed responses create conversational dead ends that leave others carrying the entire burden of keeping interactions alive.
When helping a conversation killer develop better skills, model good follow-up questions and explicitly encourage elaboration: “What made you decide to study engineering? That sounds fascinating.” If you tend to unintentionally shut down conversations, remember the conversational tennis analogy—when someone serves a topic, hit it back with related questions or shared experiences. Prepare by developing curiosity about common topics like travel, hobbies, and current events. Even simple follow-ups like “What was that like?” or “What got you interested in that?” can transform a potential conversation-ending moment into a deeper connection.
14. The Desperate People-Pleaser
They laugh at every joke (even the ones they don’t get), agree with contradictory opinions within the same conversation, and volunteer for tasks they resent doing—all in pursuit of approval. The desperate people-pleaser has tied their self-worth so tightly to external validation that authentic interaction becomes nearly impossible. Their excessive agreeableness paradoxically makes others trust them less, sensing the inauthenticity beneath their eager compliance.
To support a people-pleaser in developing healthier social patterns, create safe opportunities for them to express differences: “I’d genuinely like to hear your actual preference here—there’s no wrong answer.” If you recognize these tendencies in yourself, start with small authenticity practices like waiting a beat before automatically agreeing and asking yourself, “What do I actually think about this?” Remember that meaningful connections require showing your real self, including respectful disagreement sometimes. The truth is, constantly morphing yourself to please others doesn’t lead to genuine acceptance—it only ensures that the real you never gets the chance to be truly known and appreciated.
