There’s something intriguing about individuals who meticulously reread their texts before hitting that ‘send’ button.
It’s not just a habit, but a reflection of certain personality traits.
Poring over each word, each punctuation, each emoji—it’s not just about grammar or spelling. It tells us a lot about the person behind the screen.
Psychology suggests that these individuals usually share some common traits.
If you’re one of those who rereads their texts (like I do), you might find these traits quite familiar:
1) Attention to detail
In the world of texting, rereading messages isn’t just about catching typos.
It’s a sign of a meticulous nature, an affinity for detail.
It’s all about making sure that the message is not only grammatically correct but also delivers the intended meaning and tone.
Repeated re-readers tend to be those who value precision in communication.
They don’t want errors, misunderstandings, or any nuances to get in their way of effective communication; they are willing to take that extra time to ensure their message is as clear as possible.
As famed psychologist Carl Jung once said, “You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do.”
In this case, the habit of rereading texts is a reflection of a person’s meticulousness and attention to detail.
They don’t just say they value clear communication—their actions show it.
2) High level of empathy
As someone who constantly rereads my texts before sending, I’ve noticed one common thread that ties us all together—a high level of empathy.
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We’re the type to ponder on how our words might be received by the person on the other end.
I remember this one time when I was texting a friend who was going through a tough breakup; I wanted to be supportive, but I also didn’t want to say anything that could potentially make them feel worse.
So, I spent a good ten minutes crafting and rereading a single text message, just to make sure it hit the right note.
This empathy, this ability to put ourselves in others’ shoes, it’s something that renowned psychologist Daniel Goleman called “emotional intelligence”.
In the context of rereading texts, our high empathy levels lead us to be extra careful with our digital communications.
We want to ensure that our messages are supportive, encouraging, and never hurtful.
3) Fear of being misunderstood
Have you ever sent a text and then panicked because you thought it could be misinterpreted? I know I have.
Those who frequently reread their texts often have a deep-seated fear of being misunderstood.
We live in a digital age where tone of voice and facial expressions are lost in written communication.
A simple word or phrase could be interpreted differently depending on the reader’s mood or perspective.
This fear can sometimes hold us back, making us second guess ourselves and reread our texts over and over again.
Famous psychologist Abraham Maslow once said, “In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety.”
In our case, the ‘safety’ is ensuring we are not misunderstood, even if it means taking extra time to reread our texts.
4) Perfectionist tendencies
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Those of us who tend to reread our texts before sending often exhibit perfectionist tendencies.
We strive for flawlessness, even in casual communication.
The desire to present ourselves perfectly can stem from a fear of making mistakes and being judged.
So, when we’re rereading our texts, we’re not just looking for typos or grammatical errors.
We’re ensuring that every word, every emoji, every punctuation mark is just right.
While this can be exhausting at times, it’s just how our perfectionist minds work.
5) Highly considerate
Another trait that we, the relentless text revisers, often share is being highly considerate.
We care deeply about how our words may impact the recipient.
I can’t count how many times I’ve tweaked my messages to make sure they come across as kind and thoughtful, even if it’s just a simple birthday wish.
As the eminent psychologist Albert Bandura once said, “In order to succeed, people need a sense of self-efficacy, to struggle together with resilience to meet the inevitable obstacles and inequities of life.”
In our case, the ‘obstacle’ is ensuring our words are received well and that they reflect our genuine intent.
Our way of overcoming it? Careful consideration and multiple revisions before we hit ‘send’.
6) Desire for control
It may seem counterintuitive, but our habit of rereading texts can actually reflect a desire for control.
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We can’t control how the recipient will react, but we can control the words we use and the tone we set.
In our texts, every word is a choice.
By meticulously reviewing those choices, we exert our control over the situation as much as possible.
7) Self-awareness
Lastly, one trait that’s common among us text revisers is self-awareness.
We’re aware of how our words can come across and the impact they can have.
As psychologist Carl Rogers said, “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”
We acknowledge our communication style, embrace it, and use it to our advantage in a world driven by digital communication.
Wrapping up
The way we interact with our devices, the way we craft our digital messages, can reveal more about us than we might realize.
From our attention to detail to our empathy levels, from our fear of being misunderstood to our perfectionist tendencies—every trait is a piece of the puzzle that is our personality.
For those of us who reread our texts before sending, it’s not just about correcting typos or perfecting punctuation.
It’s about ensuring that our messages align with who we are and how we want to be perceived.
The next time you find yourself rereading a text before sending it, remember that it’s a reflection of your unique traits and personality—and that in itself is something truly fascinating.
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