8 Warning Signs to Watch Out For in a New Relationship

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Warning signs in a relationship are not always easy to detect straight from the get go.

Some behaviors from your partner may be subtle and appear early on, but this doesn’t mean that they’re going to go away anytime soon.

Red flags in a relationship should never be ignored, especially early on in the relationship. It’s important to watch out for these warning signs, because detecting them early on could save you from a whole lot of grief later on in the relationship.

Curious to learn which warning signs you should be on the look out for? Keep reading to learn more.

8 Warning Signs to Watch Out For in a New Relationship

1. They’re verbally aggressive and/or hostile. When you’re out and about with your date, you may notice that they’re overly critical, and even verbally aggressive not just towards others, but also towards you. This is definitely a warning sign to watch out for, as it may point to underlying anger management issues.

2. You don’t want them to meet your friends. While you may be able to trick yourself into thinking that you really like the person you’re seeing, if for some reason you just can’t bring yourself to introduce them to your friends, this usually means you’re not being honest with yourself. Maybe it’s the off-color jokes they make, or how they make fun of others, but if you find yourself looking for reasons to not let them meet your friends, this is a warning sign you don’t want to ignore.

3. You find that you’re talking yourself into staying in the relationship for whatever reason. Sometimes we ignore our impulses to flee from someone, even if we know deep down that we could never be happy with them. Maybe you’re only attracted to them in a physical sense, or maybe they have a really cool job you love learning about, or maybe you like hanging out with their group of friends more than you like hanging out with them individually. Whatever the reason, if you find that you’re talking yourself into staying with this person, rather than sincerely enjoying their company, the relationship is doomed from the start.

4. They’re still oddly focused on their ex. Sometimes an ex may linger after a break-up. Maybe they share the same friends as you, or maybe they’re connected through a family member. However, if your new significant other continues to hyper-focus on their ex, from casually mentioning their name to still hanging out with them one-on-one, this is definitely a warning sign. A healthy relationship should only involve you and your significant other. There’s no room for an ex in the picture.

5. Your core values fundamentally differ. Differences in couples are normal and very healthy. However, if you find that you hold extremely differing viewpoints on fundamental issues (e.g., starting a family one day vs. not), this is a huge warning sign that you should never ignore. Fundamental views are not something that can be easily changed, so if you continue to ignore major differences in core values, you’re looking at a rough road ahead.

6. Their empathy is severely lacking. Does your partner have a difficult time putting their self in your shoes, or in others’ shoes? Do they act without regard for your feelings, and exhibit a lack of empathy overall? While this may not seem too important early on in the relationship, it will definitely take its toll on you in due course.

7. They exhibit narcissistic behaviors. Narcissistic people are deceptive. They may appear to have your best interests at heart, but at the end of the day they’ll manipulate you to serve their own interests. While not a readily apparent warning sign, if you find that time and again they’re pushing you to have things their way, or that they become easily upset and withdraw if they don’t get their way, then it’s likely you’re dealing with a narcissist.

8. They’re constantly pushing your boundaries (and not in a good way). Pushing you to be brave and go down a water slide, or pushing you to take the last bite of your cheesecake on a romantic date is one thing, but if your significant other is pushing you to do things that feel wrong to you, don’t ignore this. A healthy relationship should foster an environment where you feel safe and secure, not compromised.