Why are Danes so bashful about compliments?

3 months ago
1

Positive feedback is uncommon in Denmark, because Danes themselves are often uncomfortable receiving compliments.

Compliments run smack-dab into the "Jante Law", which says specifically that “Don’t think that you’re better than us.”

When you give someone a compliment, you lift them above you, if only for a moment, and that disturbs the equality, or at least the façade of equality, which is so important in Denmark.

So compliments are not a natural thing in Denmark, either on the job or in your personal life.

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