People who lack integrity often display these 9 behaviors

Integrity: It’s the quality that often determines if we see someone as ‘good’ or ‘bad’.

It’s the ability to say what you mean, do what you say, and have considerate morals and principles. 

People with integrity are often trusted for their ethical behavior and tend to have a good reputation amongst people who know them. 

On the other hand, those lacking integrity display behaviors that can damage trust and reputation in their relationships with others. 

Personally, even just thinking of people I know without integrity makes my blood boil – I’m still working on this one!

But it goes to show the power of integrity, and consequently the lack of it. 

In this article, we will delve into the 9 common behaviors exhibited by those who lack integrity:

1) Being flaky or unreliable

People without integrity are often flaky and unreliable. They may often say they’ll do something but never do. 

They may fail to meet commitments, miss deadlines, or neglect their responsibilities.

This unreliability can lead to frustration and disappointment in personal and professional contexts with other people, to the point where others stop relying on them or are prepared for them not to pull through. 

2) Not practicing what they preach

Ever heard someone speak at length about something they dislike in others, and you thought to yourself, “but you literally do that too”?

People who lack integrity will often speak about things that they don’t agree with morally, but act in a way that contradicts this. 

Sometimes, they’ll even justify it when it comes to themselves if they’ll gain something from it. 

This is also called “moral relativism”, when someone believes that the ends justify the means – even if it means compromising on their values.

3) Being dishonest

One of the easiest to spot signs of a lack of integrity is dishonesty. 

Lying, exaggerating, being secretive, and fabricating stories to suit one’s needs all fall under the umbrella of dishonesty.

This could also look like false promises and misrepresented facts, all of which undermine others’ trust in their words and actions.

Dishonesty is one of the root traits that can lead to other shady behaviors. 

4) Selfish actions

Why would people act out of integrity?

Well, it’s usually selfishness and acting for their own gain. 

People lacking integrity may exploit or manipulate people and situations, or engage in unethical practices.

This is because they aren’t committed to what’s fair, moral, nor are they considering the well-being of others. 

They may pretend that they are, but spend enough time with someone like this and you’ll soon find that it’s really all about them.

They may take advantage of someone’s generosity. Rather than showing genuine appreciation and humility when someone offers a helping hand, they may try to get as much as they can. 

5) Refusing to take accountability

Those lacking integrity tend to evade responsibility for their actions. 

Pull them up on something they did, and they may shift blame onto others, make excuses, dismiss or even ignore you.

This behavior not only kills trust but also hinders their own personal growth and avoids the valuable skill of conflict resolution.

6) Betraying trust

Individuals lacking integrity often betray the trust of others.

This can manifest in various ways, such as sharing confidential information, breaking promises, or cutting deals behind your back when you’ve introduced them to an opportunity. 

At the core, it takes a real lack of empathy and consideration for others to betray trust, which leads us to the next sign:

7) Displaying a lack of empathy

Empathy is a crucial aspect of integrity, as it involves understanding other perspectives and caring for the well-being of others. 

It involves being mindful of how one’s actions will have a ripple effect on other people’s lives.

Those who behave without integrity and are acting of their own accord often are only able to lie, manipulate, exploit, or betray because fundamentally, they hold no empathy for others. 

8) Secretive behavior

Secretive or deceptive behavior can be a hallmark behavior of people who lack integrity. 

They hide their actions or intentions and aren’t forthright about why or what they are doing.

The only reason they would do this?

They are doing something they know the other person wouldn’t approve of. But as we learned above, their selfishness overrides their empathy. 

This secrecy will create an unavoidable air of suspicion and unease in their relationships.

9) Showing a lack of gratitude

If you do something or give something to someone who seems to really want it at first, but then you go ahead and help them and they show little to no gratitude – it might be because they lack integrity. 

Why?

Because it could mean you’ve just given them one of the things they expected or wanted to get from you. 

They could be unsatisfied with this thing and plan to get more from you or from someone else. 

Most often, it’s entitled people who will ask for something or express a need, then don’t show the proportionate amount of gratitude when they get it. 

This is because they were probably already planning to get it. And that’s not what someone with integrity does – that is, try to get something without being upfront about it. 

Conclusion

Integrity is a virtue that serves as a moral compass, guiding individuals to act honestly, ethically, and consistently with the principles they speak of. 

Individuals lacking integrity exhibit behaviors that not only damage their own reputations but also erode trust and strain relationships with those around them. 

These behaviors serve as warning signs of a deeper character flaw that can often have serious consequences.

If you’re seeking to protect yourself from potential harm or manipulation, these behaviors can be a valuable tool to keep in mind.

I hope it can also encourage self-reflection for those who may display some of these behaviors, encouraging them to embark on a journey of personal growth and self-improvement.

Continuously acting out of integrity will eventually catch up to someone – whether it’s through karma or simple reputation. 

Upholding integrity in one’s actions not only benefits the individual but also contributes to a more harmonious community and society.

There’s enough lack of integrity in the world. Let’s treat everybody the same – exactly how we’d want to be treated.