How long do you think it takes to truly get to know a person?

Question

HawkPerception · Accepted Answer

It really depends on the chemistry and @Cidknee mentioned. There are some people who understand you extremely well to the point you can basically read each other's minds and finish each other's thoughts and sentences, even if they just met you. They can just naturally understand who you are. And it's usually people of similar personalities who get each other like that.

Maybe_Maybe_not · Accepted Answer

Depending on your ability to understand what it takes to truly know someone and the someone in question, I think it can take a year? That is, when you know what, how and where to look to reach the goal.

If you don't, it will also take a year but you'll fool yourself thinking you truly know them whereas information you have retrieved doesn't have much value?

sage2021 · Accepted Answer

You'll have to spend a significant amount of time with them and going different places together.

But to really get to know someone who is willing to share with you about a lot of things - I'd say about 2 years.

And even after 2 years, you'll still be finding out things about them.

It helps to ask them questions. But don't pepper them with too many.

rini02 · Accepted Answer

Honestly, sometimes even decades or a whole life feel less when you think you know the person and build trust in them, and that person destroys that in one go.

But, on the contrary, there are people whom we know for a short time, but they keep that trust and make us believe in humanity once again.

Love Doctor Brad · Accepted Answer

My whole aim on GAG is helping people decode hearts and red flags, so I love this one 😏

You never *fully* know someone, but you get a real sense of their character after about 6–12 months. You need to see them in stress, conflict, boredom, not just honeymoon lovebombing vibes. Different seasons, different moods, real-life problems. Time + consistency = the truth.

DishLady · Answer

Depends on the person. Some people are very transparent, so what you see is what you get. Other people are on the shady side so you never really get to know them. Most people are somewhere in between.

petitedollbabee · Answer

People are forever changing and growing, it is impossible to truly know someone. Many people also show different versions of themselves to different people. So it’s more.. do you truly know that specific version of them, that they show you? Some people are great at putting on a mask and hiding their “true” selves for many years.

Ill_made_Knight · Answer

A lifetime. A person is not a static being. Attitudes shift and change throughout life, although I would think major changesin thinking would be substantially less frequent. Live with someone and you'll get the gist rather quickly, see them once a week and you may be recieving little surprises for quite long time.

Sunrising · Answer

I would say the length of time needed to truly get to know someone is like how long is a piece of string.

Some people you can meet and you know them straight away for good or bad, other people you never truly get to know them.

Nikki1989 · Answer

That depends on the person. Some people are with someone for decades and realize they never truly knew them — because they stopped looking. Genuine knowing requires ongoing curiosity, not just accumulated time.

CherryLove007 · Answer

If you never met them as an infant baby like a sibling that lived with you for many years day in and day out then that will be a long time to see how well that person functions.

Anonymous · Answer

That really depends. It depends on how discerning you are with who you let into your world. And it depends whether they want to let you into theirs. You can know a person for 10 years and they can be playing you the entire time.

Add to this, we as people are always changing and evolving. People do not typically change who they are at their core though. This is why unserstanding a persons morals and values a crucial.

midnightmoon05 · Answer

Depends how often you spend time. And if living together so hard to say without more information.

MissSunshine2 · Answer

Honestly? To know them properly, it takes a few years.

QuineJessica · Answer

It depends on the individual, but I would say 3 to 6 months

spartan55 · Answer

I was married to a woman for ten years and have known her since sixth grade. Turns out I didn't know her nearly as well as I thought.

_Jenny_ · Answer

@thegreenyogi A very long time to know them well

Veronika_p · Answer

I'm too sensitive 😏 I could tell a person within 3 times meeting

Shiprex · Answer

People change slowly and sometimes quickly and you never really do get to know them as they grow and evolve like you do

RedInnocent69 · Answer

A lifetime. They keep growing and changing if they’re doing it right

Cidknee · Answer

It could take 5 minutes or a life time. It depends on the chemistry of the two.

exitseven · Answer

Years. You need to see them at their worst and at their best and every thing in between.

Nik1hil · Answer

21 hours of deep intense and Honest conversations

Xawyx-2 · Answer

Depends on the person. Some people are easy to read, others are a bit more difficult.

Surely · Answer

Some people show their true colors in about ten seconds. Others it would take years!

jahaims · Answer

Depends on how much time you spend together and how emotionally healthy each person is

ThisSiteSux · Answer

11 seconds. That's why they call me best friend Jay.

msc545 · Answer

To the extent that I need to professionally, maybe about 10 minutes

Anonymous · Answer

Personally I don't think you ever do.

AngryCarl3 · Answer

Can you ever truly know anyone?

FrodoSkywalker007 · Answer

A lifetime. We are ever changing

Jamie05rhs · Answer

Two years at the very minimum.

Iron_Man · Answer

3 years to 5 years

Still-alive · Answer

i'd give it 2-3 years

Pterodon · Answer

Sometimes decades. Look at Gary Ridgeway’s wife

lessthansane · Answer

People are not static but fluid

WhitneySnow · Answer

A few months

Anonymous · Answer

Minimum 6 months

loveslongnails · Answer

A lifetime

AgentG111 · Answer

Years!

In_Trance · Answer

3-5 years

How long do you think it takes to truly get to know a person?

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