Trusting your gut reaction to people

[Suetwo]

I have been reading a book in which the author says you should generally trust your initial, gut reaction to somebody. I mentioned this to a friend, who dismissed it as rubbish. She said people often surprised her and that her gut reaction tended to be wrong. What do you think?

I believe in gut feelings but they can also show up as anxiety. If it’s in the chest it’s anxiety but if it’s a calm feeling in your stomach it’s your gut instinct

I get gut feelings pretty strong but then always been told I’m a very sensitive person!
what do you think about it?

No harm in listening to your gut and being slightly on you guard or less 'all in' with someone new until you can make a more balanced view, but with the caveat that the first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.

I suppose I was thinking of that spidery, tingly feeling you get around some people. You know, the feeling that something is ‘off’ or not quite right. I wonder how often the reaction is accurate? I suspect it’s reliable most of the time. As a species, we’ve had to develop a sixth sense. Unlike other animals, humans can hide what they really are. If an animal is going to kill you, it doesn’t smile and pretend to be your friend!

When the Jimmy Saville scandal broke, lots of celebrities said that, looking back, they couldn’t bear to be in a room with him. Not because of anything he said or did, just because of his aura or presence. I remember a work colleague telling me that she was introduced to a guy who made her feel physically sick. She said she literally wanted to vomit, even though on the surface he seemed perfectly ordinary. They later found out he’d been in prison for abusing children.

I believe in gut Instinct but not necessarily first impressions based on preconceived ideas/stereotypes. You need to be careful to distinguish between these.

Sometimes….
One of the school dad’s was at a child’s party. I didn’t even speak to him or get that close but he made me feel, I don’t know, like there was something off with him?

Few months later I found out he had been charged with coercive and controlling behaviour.

My gut instinct has never been wrong...ever.

Gut is always right.

My gut has always been spot on. I've ignored it several times to my detriment

My parents moved a year ago to a village. There’s a man there who is very friendly- older single guy. He kept trying to give my dc sweets when my dc stayed with my parents in the summer. My mum kept declining and chatted to my dc about the fact that they don’t know him although he seems friendly so just stay near her when he’s around. Dm told me about it but added she couldn’t put her finger on it but he made her feel really uncomfortable.

One month on it all comes out about his suspended sentence, mental health issues and he’s obsessed with my 68 year old mother despite my dh always being around. He’s been seen filming her in the local pub. Police have warned her that they are watching him and are concerned about his obsession with her.

Must admit I just assumed initially he was a lonely old man but my mum isn’t one for dramatics and turns out she was spot on with her gut instinct.

Her dh not my dh