Is it normal that my intuition and first impressions of someone are spot-on?

When I turned about, I'd guess, 15 years of age? I began to notice things about people very quickly. I got first impressions within seconds of someone speaking their first sentence to me. And since then, my first impressions have usually been spot-on. I could tell one kid had extremely right-wing beliefs despite the fact that he claimed otherwise for like the first few weeks I knew him and he seemed entirely normal. I was right. I guessed one kid was absolutely insane despite his relatively normal outward face. He became my best friend and betrayed me in his paranoia years later, with no hint leading up to the last few months of craziness. I guessed one kid was incredibly selfish and cynical even though he barely talked and was very shy. Again, spot-on after a few months. He tried to rat out our whole group over some very innocent mischief because he knew the strict teacher would favor him afterward. Etc. And then, when I started to go out and get involved in extracurriculars, the same thing happened, even though none of that was dramatic. Am I crazy? Is this normal?

No, it's not normal. 0
You're imagining things. 2
Yes, it's normal. 7
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Comments ( 4 )
  • seekelp

    It's called confirmation bias. When you put someone in a box, you're going to look for specific traits/actions and the ones that contradict the narrative you've built up you'll rationalize away. Moreover, a person changes from moment to moment. For that second kid you mentioned, maybe your suspicion about him lead you to treat him oddly, leading to him being completely uninvented in your "whole group."

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  • howaminotmyself

    Well, it wouldn't be called intuition if you were always wrong. But don't get overconfident in that ability and let people surprise you.

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  • ArayaLioness

    Seekelp is right on the money imo. It could be that. Or it could be that you have a great "gut".

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  • regisphilbin

    maybe you're a judgmental misanthrope with a superiority complex.

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