Have you ever been around people who talk too much? They always seem to dominate the conversation and interrupt others when they speak. But socializing with an overly chatty person makes for an unpleasant experience. Even introverts like to talk at some point during a conversation. But with someone who speaks too much, getting a word in edgewise becomes difficult.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that extroverts and others who enjoy talking have insidious motives. They may not even realize how their behavior impacts others. Gabby people sometimes have lower emotional intelligence, making reading social cues challenging. A low EQ doesn’t make them a terrible person by any means, but it can hamper social skills.
For instance, if someone turns away from them or pulls out their phone during a conversation, they may not even notice. However, this behavior means the person feels annoyed or interrupted by the speaker.
Below, we’ll delve deeper into why some people talk too much and how to address this behavior.
Psychology Reveals Why Some People Talk Too Much
1. They might have ADHD or ADD
Someone who talks too much might have a mental health condition like ADHD. Characterized by hyperactivity and restlessness, the disorder may also cause overtalking to release excess energy.
Many people with ADD don’t mean to interrupt others; they just might feel excited or nervous. Also, people with ADHD have a million thoughts in their heads at once, so talking can serve as a distraction.
Studies show a clear link between hyperactivity and excessive talking. One study of 99 children with and without ADHD discovered that these behaviors might start early in life. The research showed that the inattentive, hyperactive children talked excessively compared to the other group. Overtalking caused problems with their classmates and learning difficulties in some cases.
Adults with ADHD may show similar signs in social settings. Feeling overly anxious or excited may cause them to talk too much. Or, they might want to feel included in the conversation and make sure their voice gets heard. People with ADHD usually don’t like silence and avoid discomfort by overtalking.
2. Having Asperger’s or autism could make them talk too much.
While many people on the autism spectrum are on the quieter side, they can talk for hours about a subject that interests them. They may not realize when someone doesn’t share that interest since they struggle with nonverbal cues. It is difficult to read body language and understand when to end a conversation.
According to the Autism Research Institute, common social symptoms of adult autism include:
Unintentional social blunders Difficulty keeping up in conversations Lack of emotional expression Awkwardness in social situations Difficulty detecting sarcasm or figurative language – takes things literally Remembers small details such as facts or names
3. They feel insecure.
Sometimes, people talk too much to compensate for feeling inadequate or insecure. They want to impress others somehow, and overtalking can help increase confidence. For instance, they might embellish stories to make themselves seem more attractive. Or, they may tell jokes to gain popularity and ensure no one forgets about them.
If someone feels uncomfortable or lacking, they may seek external validation. When socializing, it becomes more about proving themselves than having a good time. However, people with low self-esteem sometimes avoid social situations entirely, especially if they’ve had negative experiences.
4. Silence makes them uncomfortable.
Sometimes, people talk too much to fill gaps in conversation. They may not like silence because it makes them feel awkward or nervous. Or, they might think the other person will lose interest if they don’t …
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