My friend John emailed me and said, “Ryan, you know a lot about people and relationships… What are some likes and dislikes that a person might have?” He was writing about leadership at his company. And for home. And thought to himself… if he only knew what people liked and disliked, he could tell a better story. Well, great question John! I gave my honest answer…
As unique individuals walking the face of this earth, we are all entitled to our own version of likes and dislikes when it comes to anything. This makes everyone interesting to know and even sparks excellent conversations with strangers.
For many people, their interests depend on their mood. For example, you might like listening to songs when you’re in a good mood, but if you’re feeling enraged or are going through a tough time, music might not be something that you need at the moment.
Many people struggle to find the right answer when asked about their interests or dislikes. This lack of self-awareness can affect your personality and behavior at length.
But Why Is It So Important That We Know About what we Like And Dislike?
To sit down and resolve that you are interested in knowing yourself inside and out calls for quite a bit of determination and effort. Those who are self-aware have the capacity to alter the course of many scenarios because they are better able to comprehend both themselves and others.
- You Can Identify Your Potential
- You Build Better Relationships
- You Set Boundaries
- You Can Make Better Decisions
Is It Important To Ask People About Their Likes And Dislikes?
For starters, the answer is simple- YES. As long as we live in a society like ours, mingling with people and interacting with each other, knowing someone’s likes and dislikes helps us live in harmony.
When you ask someone about their likes and dislikes, you get a deeper level of understanding about the person. Knowing what irks them and makes them happy ultimately helps you better understand the person and build more meaningful relationships.
Expert advice: The act of “liking something” is an actual chemical reaction in the brain. This is why everyone has different likes. There are some common ones. And less common ones.
Some Like And Dislike People And Places
These are just some general ideas about likes and dislikes that we think are commonly shared by most people. Perhaps some items on our list of likes might fall in the dislikes section for others but remember that whether or not you consider these likes of other people as a dislike according to you, always respect their opinions.
What You Might Like Or Dislike In People
We meet hundreds of people in our lifetime, but we click with only some of them. But if you’re wondering why you connect with some people more than others, there are some things that you might like in a person.
See also: List of insecurities
Their Looks
No matter how much the world can argue that looks aren’t everything, it is the first thing you notice about a new person.
It is the way they look and their appearance that first catches our eyes, and then we start getting to know them and seeing them for the person they are inside.
Some people might find certain facial features to be quite attractive, while others don’t find it attractive at all.
The Way They Dress
People also might look at how you dress and feel like they admire you for your style. At the same time, people with a unique sense of style might be totally unlikeable, those who are more conservative or traditional in their outfits.
Expert advice: Studies have shown that there are different “like” and “want” responses in the brain. Someone may “want” something but not “like it.” And vice versa.
Their Sense Of Humor
Once you get to know someone, you might be more inclined to spend a little more time with them because you like their sense of humor. Many people connect with others on this aspect.
At the same time, some people might have a very twisted or dark sense of humor that does not click with anyone. If you’re more of the playing-it-safe kind of person when it comes to humor, you might not like being around people with this dark humor.
The Way They Carry Themselves
People like a person’s demeanor, the way they radiate self-confidence and command a room when they walk in. In other words, the way that they carry themselves might be attractive to some people. On the other hand, some people might find this kind of behavior overly done. They might view this as a display of overconfidence or arrogance which is detestable to them.
See also: List of emotions
Their Level Of Authenticity
You might have noticed that some people are not authentic at all. While it is perfectly normal for someone to try and fit into new places and environments, some people tend to try a little too hard, making them fake. Not many people like being around fake friends because it is so exhausting to deal with.
On the other hand, what you like about someone could be their realness and their authenticity. You appreciate the raw honesty that they bring to the circle. It could even come off as harsh and blunt to some people, but perhaps you find their unfiltered honesty quite refreshing.
Their Mindset
You might like or dislike a person depending on the type of mindset they have. While everyone is entitled to have opinions of their own, some ideas might clash with yours which you don’t like. For example, as an animal lover, if someone you meet also has the same view on animal rights, you are automatically attracted to their mindset.
On the other hand, for someone who is all about keeping the peace, a difference in opinions about gun control or violence as a whole might be reason enough to dislike the person.
Their Personal Habits
Some people have good habits and healthy habits which attract people to them. For example, waking up early in the morning or practicing yoga and meditation every day. These are just some good habits that they follow which you might like.
On the other hand, some people have bad habits like smoking or procrastination, and laziness, which might be a complete turn-off.
See also: List of turn offs
The Way They Talk
Some people have a way with words that you just love listening to them, even if it’s for hours. On the other hand, you might meet some people who are just too chatty or always says the wrong thing that you don’t want to spend another minute listening to them.
See also: Worst personality traits
Their Interests
When you start getting to know someone, their likes, and dislikes are some of the first things you learn about them. When you share a similar love for a particular activity, you tend to spend more time together doing something you like. In contrast, if you don’t share common interests, you might find it hard to connect with the person.
The Way They Treat People
Sometimes you might meet people who are the ideal person with the perfect looks and the perfect everything, but then you find out how they treat other people, and you start disliking them.
There is so much to be said about how beauty is on the inside because even if you find the most attractive person in the world to befriend if they have a bad attitude and do not treat people with the kindness they deserve, it can be a complete turn-off.
What You Might Like Or Dislike In Places
Smell
Smell has a firm grasp on our memory and how we separate the memories between good and bad. You might love visiting that old bakery from around the corner because the baked goods smell comforting and delicious. On the other hand, you might dislike the alley on your way to work, which smells like urine and animal feces.
Noise
Some people like living amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, while others like the quaint serenity that the countryside brings.
The People
Maybe you dreamt of visiting a city that you’ve never been to, but the moment you get here, you find that you completely dislike the people there, and it has ruined your perfect fantasy.
You don’t have to travel far to realize this. Maybe you’ll find that you love your hometown because it is where you spend most of your childhood, but the people there might have been toxic to your mindset growing up; hence, you end up disliking the people from that place.
Weather
So much can be said about places that are so great on the books and to travel to for a day or two, but their weather does not sit well with you. You might love the idea of a holiday there but the thought of living there is not an idea you like at all.
Hygiene
The cleanliness and tidiness of a place can impact whether you like the place or not. Everyone prefers to be in a clean environment, so if you visit a restaurant or a hotel and find it so dirty, you probably won’t like the place or consider returning for another visit.
Accessibility
You might find yourself a nice place to live in, but without the proper facilities and amenities or access to basic needs like transport and groceries, you’ll end up disliking the place.
The View
Some places you go to might be mediocre, but their view is spectacular. Just think back on some hikes you might have taken or places you traveled to which had great landscapes and scenery surrounding them. You probably have great memories of that place because you liked the view.
Common List Of Likes And Dislikes
There are a lot of things in the world that people like and dislike. In fact, if you really get into the details, you might just end up with a list that is as long as rods that never seem to end. But just to give you an idea, we have a short list of common and random things that you find likable and others that you don’t like at all.
| LIKES | DISLIKES |
| Chocolate | Humidity |
| Fruits | Snakes |
| Jewelry | Messy rooms |
| Candles | Scarecrows |
| Scrapbooking | Funerals |
| Quilting activities | Sweating |
| Doing DIY crafts | Clowns |
| Treehouses | Bad puns |
| Organizing things at home | Karaoke |
| Pottery | Oversized hoodies |
| Cooking | Politics |
| Going on road trips | Instant coffee |
| Fishing | Getting pranked |
| Collecting stamps | Elevator music |
| Doing puzzles | Flash mobs |
| Riverside | Boybands |
| Playing with pets | Horror movies |
| Listening to podcasts | Visiting the dentist |
| Going for a bike ride | Glitter |
| Nail art | Seafood |
| Tattoos | Gel pen |
| Spa massages | Itchy scalp |
| Freshly baked bread | Gossip |
| Folded laundry | Bugs |
| Clean sheets | Traffic |
| Puppies | Spoilers |
| Concerts | Social media |
| Hot showers | Vegetables |
| Hot coffee | Food fights |
| Rain | Bombs |
| Ice skating | Animal cruelty |
| Taking a long train ride | Jazz music |
| Foraging | Documentation |
| A cold breeze | Heat |
| Community service | Funerals |
| Flowers | Complaints |
| Travelling | Spiders |
| Miniature things | Research |
| Plants | Earthworms |
| Interior designing | Online classes |
| Church | Loud chewers |
| Butterflies | Improv classes |
| Dancing | Sneezing |
| Architecture | Insects |
| The forest | Extreme cold |
| Espresso | Lying |
| Running | Cockroaches |
| Playing the guitar | Salons |
| Working out | Hiccups |
| Thai massage | Throwing the trash |
| Zoo | Sound of crickets |
| Yoga | Fireworks |
| Fresh produce | Cleaning the fridge |
| Books | Folding laundry |
| Tea | Tardiness |
| Shopping | Getting receipts |
| Sunlight | Washing clothes |
| Hugs | Overflowing trashbins |
| Gardening | Bright lights |
| Bookstores | Various hairstyles |
| Pop music | Whistles |
| The sound of the keyboard | Parkour |
| Icecream | Cleaning out mail |
| Ceramics | Sound of the doorbell |
| Manicure | Open spaces |
| Pizza | Scratching sounds |
| Crystals | ASMR |
| Stickers | Charging your phone |
| Opening gifts | Mukbang videos |
| Playing video games | Working on your laptop |
| Chocolate | Watching shows with the full volume |
| Romantic comedies | Snoring |
| Valleys | Making a doctor’s appointment |
| Board games | Denim on denim |
| Success stories | Synchronized swimming |
| Exploring | Open toed shoes |
| camping | Choreography |
| Card games | Red nail paint |
| Someone smiling at you | Dry skin |
| Mountains | Mathematics |
| Baking | Mayonnaise |
| Horses | Facial hair |
| Sketching | Science experiments |
| Getting a compliment | Shaving |
| Feel-good movies | Fairytales |
| Clouds | Dust on your TV |
| Perfume | Chest hair |
| Ocean | Moping the floor |
| Snow | Going to school |
| Fish | Ink pen |
| Electronics | Writing notes |
| Thunder | Judgment |
| Basketball | Doing the dishes |
| Musicals | Studying |
| Dogs | Screaming |
| Football | Low phone battery |
| Ponds | Running errands |
| Cars | Empty bottles in the fridge |
| Cats | Laziness |
| Batter | Clogged drains |
| Lego | Secrets |
| Post-it notes | Hairfall |
| Shoes | Sleeping in late |
| Modeling | Holes in your socks |
| Brunches | Insomnia |
| Aroma diffusers | Air pollution |
| Clothes | Being stared at |
| Pancakes | Runny nose |
| Socks | Smelly food |
| Buffets | Violence |
| Kites | Tight fitted clothes |
| Bags | Ignorance |
| Coloring books | World hunger |
| Superheroes | Alarm clocks |
| Gore movies | Falling sick |
| Taekwondo | Broccoli |
| Archery | Poverty |
| Sceneries | Iced coffee |
| Halloween | Wrong size shoes |
| Sand castles | Politicians |
| Rollercoasters | Feeling awkward |
| Nose piercings | Long lines |
| Christmas | Itching |
| Maps | Being yelled at |
| Dollhouses | Sneezing |
Inside this article
Fact checked:
Board reviewed by Marianne Tomlinson, LCSW (Couples and Family Therapy). Content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Learn more.
