8 subtle habits of people who live life with very little integrity

Integrity isn’t always as obvious as we like to think.

Most people assume that those who lack integrity are easy to spot—liars, scammers, people who outright deceive others for their own gain.

But the truth is, a lack of integrity often shows up in much subtler ways.

I’ve noticed that some of the most unreliable, untrustworthy people don’t even see themselves that way. They believe they’re doing just fine, convincing themselves that little compromises here and there don’t really matter.

But those small habits add up, shaping the way they treat others—and ultimately, the way others see them.

The tricky part? These behaviors aren’t always intentional.

Sometimes they’re just patterns people fall into without realizing how much damage they’re doing to their reputation, their relationships, and even their own sense of self-respect.

Here are eight subtle habits of people who live life with very little integrity—things to watch out for in others, and more importantly, in yourself.

1) They make excuses instead of taking responsibility

People who lack integrity rarely own up to their mistakes. Instead of admitting when they’ve messed up, they find a way to shift the blame—on circumstances, on other people, even on bad luck.

It’s never their fault. There’s always some reason why things didn’t go as planned, and that reason conveniently absolves them of any responsibility.

At first, it might not seem like a big deal. Everyone makes excuses from time to time. But over time, this habit erodes trust. If someone can’t be honest about their own failures, how can you count on them when it really matters?

The worst part is that this mindset doesn’t just affect how others see them—it also stunts their own growth.

If they never take responsibility, they never learn from their mistakes, and they stay stuck in the same patterns, making the same excuses over and over again.

2) They bend the truth when it’s convenient

Once someone gets comfortable making excuses, the next step isn’t far behind—shifting the truth just enough to make themselves look better.

I know because I’ve done it.

I used to tell myself that small exaggerations didn’t really count as lying. If I missed a deadline, I’d say it was because of an unavoidable emergency when, really, I just mismanaged my time.

If I forgot to respond to an important email, I’d claim it went to my spam folder instead of admitting I overlooked it. Just little things, nothing major—or so I thought.

But over time, those little tweaks to the truth added up. People started catching on. They wouldn’t call me out directly, but I could see it in their reactions—a slight hesitation before believing me, a little less trust in their eyes.

And when I finally realized what was happening, it hit me hard.

The truth is, bending reality to avoid discomfort might feel harmless in the moment, but it slowly chips away at credibility. And once trust is broken, it’s nearly impossible to fully rebuild.

3) They do what’s easy instead of what’s right

Warren Buffett once said, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”

People who lack integrity don’t usually make one big, obvious mistake that destroys their credibility overnight. Instead, they take the easy way out—again and again—until one day they wake up and realize no one truly trusts them.

It’s easier to ignore an uncomfortable conversation than to face it head-on. It’s easier to cut corners on a project than to put in the extra effort. It’s easier to do the bare minimum than to follow through on a commitment when no one’s watching.

At first, these choices seem harmless. But every time someone chooses convenience over character, they weaken their own foundation.

And when the moment comes where doing the right thing really matters, they’ve already trained themselves to take the easy road.

4) They treat people differently based on what they can gain

Humans are wired to pick up on subtle social cues. It only takes seven seconds to form a first impression, and much of that is based on how someone makes us feel rather than what they actually say.

That’s why people who only act with integrity when it benefits them rarely go unnoticed for long.

They might be warm and engaging when speaking to a potential client or someone in a position of power, but the moment they interact with someone they see as “unimportant,” their energy shifts. Less patience, less kindness, less effort.

At first glance, this might not seem like a major issue—after all, isn’t it natural to prioritize relationships that bring value? But the problem isn’t about prioritization, it’s about inconsistency.

People notice when someone’s behavior changes depending on who’s watching, and over time, that kind of selective respect chips away at credibility. Because if someone only acts with integrity when it serves them, can they really be trusted at all?

5) They break small promises and assume it doesn’t matter

A promise doesn’t have to be big for it to mean something. People who lack integrity often convince themselves that small commitments are flexible.

They’ll say they’ll call back in an hour but never do. They’ll promise to show up to an event, then back out at the last minute with a vague excuse.

None of these things seem like a huge deal on their own, but they add up. Every time someone casually breaks a promise—no matter how small—they send a message that their word doesn’t really mean much.

And here’s the thing: People notice. Maybe not right away, maybe not in an obvious way, but over time, those little disappointments create doubt.

Eventually, others stop relying on them altogether, because deep down, they know they probably shouldn’t have in the first place.

6) They only apologize to smooth things over

An apology should mean something. It should be a recognition of wrongdoing, a commitment to do better.

But for people who lack integrity, apologies are often just another tool—a quick way to move past discomfort without actually taking responsibility.

They’ll say “I’m sorry you feel that way” instead of owning what they did. They’ll apologize in the moment but repeat the same behavior later.

They’ll use words like “I didn’t mean to” or “That wasn’t my intention” as if that erases the impact of their actions.

True integrity isn’t just about saying the right things—it’s about following through.

And when someone constantly offers empty apologies without real change, it becomes clear that they care more about appearances than accountability.

7) They justify bad behavior by pointing to their good intentions

People who lack integrity rarely see themselves as the problem. Instead, they convince themselves that as long as their intentions are good, their actions don’t really matter.

They’ll dismiss cutting corners at work because they were just trying to be efficient. They’ll justify letting someone down because they didn’t mean to hurt them. They’ll brush off dishonesty because they were only trying to avoid conflict.

But here’s the truth—intentions don’t erase impact. It doesn’t matter if someone meant well if their actions caused harm.

Integrity isn’t about having good intentions; it’s about making sure actions align with values, even when it’s inconvenient.

8) They only act with integrity when there’s something to lose

The real test of integrity isn’t how someone behaves when the stakes are high—it’s what they do when no one’s watching, when there’s no immediate consequence, when doing the right thing won’t earn them any praise.

People who lack integrity tend to only do the right thing when not doing it could cost them something—a job, a reputation, a relationship. But when there’s no apparent risk, they take shortcuts, break promises, twist the truth.

The problem with this mindset is that it assumes integrity is about external accountability.

But real integrity isn’t about avoiding consequences—it’s about internal standards. It’s about showing up the same way, regardless of who’s watching or what’s at stake.

Because in the end, the people who truly live with integrity don’t do it for appearances. They do it because it’s who they are.

Bottom line

Integrity isn’t about never making mistakes—it’s about what happens next. It’s about owning missteps, learning from them, and choosing to do better.

The small habits we ignore today shape the reputation we carry tomorrow. Every excuse, every broken promise, every moment of convenience over character leaves a mark, whether we realize it or not.

But the good news? Integrity isn’t fixed. It’s a choice, made over and over again in the details of daily life.

Pay attention to the small moments.

Because in the end, trust isn’t built in grand gestures—it’s built in the quiet consistency of showing up as someone others can count on. And that’s what truly lasts.