Why Compliments Feel Uncomfortable When You Have Low Self-Esteem?

[Hazel]

Someone with low self-esteem may dismiss compliments, assume the other person is only being polite, or immediately point out a flaw. Positive feedback can feel harder to accept than criticism. Why can compliments feel uncomfortable when self-esteem is low, and what does this reveal about self-perception?

 

[Shree]

Compliments can feel uncomfortable when they clash with the way someone sees themselves. If a person already feels inadequate, praise may sound exaggerated or undeserved, even when it is genuine. Instead of feeling good, the compliment can create doubt, awkwardness, or an urge to brush it off.