"You're so smart, for a girl" – what is "negging" and how to resist it

Passive aggression often disguises itself as care, jokes, or well-meaning advice. One manifestation is negging: belittling, sarcasm, or devaluation presented as a compliment or advice. This can lead to self-doubt, anxiety, and a desire to prove one's worth to the person who supposedly "praised" them.

Gestalt therapist Daria Bagmiet and psychologist Victoria Shavlak in a conversation with LIGA.net explained:

• Examples of non-ganging.
• Why do people resort to such manipulation?
• What impact does it have and how to learn to defend yourself.

What does nagging sound like: examples and typical phrases

Negging is a type of manipulative statement and behavior, where devaluation and humiliation are presented as compliments, unsolicited advice, or constructive criticism, explains LIGA.net psychologist Victoria Shavlak.

For example, a nagging might sound like this:

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