Why Does the Lack of Authenticity Impact Us?

On the surface, it seems as though others’ lack of authenticity or even outright “fake” behavior shouldn’t impact us much. After all, we’re a pleasantly open “you do you” culture right now, so what does it really matter?

Dealing with inauthentic people very much impacts our own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. We learn a lot about people with the subtle, unspoken cues we receive during a conversation. We are hardwired to pick up on these nuances, which we translate into information that guides our own responses and behaviors.