Arrogant Personality (A Complete 5 Point Guide)

 In this article we will talk about the characteristics of an arrogant personality and how to spot an arrogant person. We will also look at ways to deal with arrogant people.

Who is an arrogant person? 

Arrogance is a character trait in which a person has a disproportionately high sense of worth. Someone who is arrogant acts as if they are better, more deserving, and more significant than others. As a result, they have a tendency to belittle and disrespect others.

They want others to respect and appreciate them at the same time. They want to be acknowledged for the great things they’ve accomplished as well as their distinctive abilities and talents.

How do you spot an arrogant person?

Now if you want to spot an arrogant person here are a few signs that will give them away:

  • The world seems to revolve around them
  • They have a few surface level friendships
  • They backstab their own friends
  • They are like a wolf in sheep’s clothing
  • They have a burning urge to be correct at all times
  • They have a strong desire to look good, even if it means putting others down
  • They care more about how they look than how well they perform

An arrogant individual can cause a slew of issues in your life.

When an arrogant friend or relative needs to make themselves look decent, you typically end up as a sacrificial lamb. This is because they usually do not place the same value on other individuals as they do on themselves, and their actions demonstrate this. 

It’s not that they can’t feel empathy or try to become a better person; it’s just that they prefer to live in a false sense of superiority.

Arrogant people should be avoided at all costs because they will inevitably destroy your life.

The world seems to revolve around them

Arrogance is often accompanied by a protected worldview that makes perfect sense to them. This is attributed to their self-centered belief that those other people cannot possibly share their worldviews or experiences.

It’s never about what other people are thinking, feeling, or doing. It’s always about how something affects, bothers, or benefits them.

If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.

They have a few surface level friendships

Close or genuine relationships are hard for arrogant people. They often prioritise having more friends instead of having few sincere ones. They want to appear popular and have a large circle of friends without making any of the necessary effort.

If the arrogant person allows someone to get too close, the outsider will be able to see through their facade so they keep people at a distance.

They backstab their own friends

They typically gossip behind their backs and spread lies about the few friends they have. This is linked to arrogant people’s dislike of sharing the limelight with others.

When their lies are uncovered eventually, and people with healthy boundaries distance themselves from them. This is a major cause of their inability to sustain friendships.

They will steal the limelight and try to get an edge over their friend, by trying to shift the discussion to themselves and their personal victories.

An arrogant person may disparage their friends’ achievements or point out things with which their friend has struggled or appeared silly.

They are like a wolf in sheep’s clothing

This behavior also serves as a useful tool to get other people to fall into line. After all, “How could you say such mean things about the arrogant person! They’ve always been nice to me!” 

When it fits their agenda, arrogant people can be charming and seem considerate. They might even do it in an attempt to associate themselves with someone and pretend to be better than they really are. Their social behaviour is full of superficiality. 

They have a burning urge to be correct at all times

A psychologically and emotionally healthy individual may struggle with being wrong because it can be uncomfortable to be incorrect and humiliating to make an error or look silly in front of others. 

An arrogant man, on the other hand, just has to be correct at all costs because making a mistake or taking responsibility for it, is a threat to an arrogant person’s self-image.

They have a strong desire to look good, even if it means putting others down

They never take the blame for bad outcomes, but they are always looking for ways to take all the credit for positive outcomes. The individual is unable to admit that they have made a blunder. They’ll avoid discussing it, listen to it, or point fingers to someone else. They have a strong desire to look good, even if it involves putting people down.

They might claim credit for a great performance of the team or their subordinates at work.

They may downplay other people’s achievements in private or chip in with “how they assisted,” even if it was only a tiny bit. This is how they subtly attack others.

They care more about how they look than how well they perform

They may refuse to do tedious work that they believe is below them, even though they may be needed to complete the work. They will, always, pop up when it will be time for credit to be given or when the work is done. That is something they will not be missing!

The arrogant person may also lie about the results of the thing to make themselves look like they did a better job than they did. 

When it’s time to work, the arrogant person vanishes. They’ll probably probably make up a lame excuse, such as the need to use the restroom, and then simply vanish for as long as they feel like it.

They may exaggerate or adamantly lie about the outcomes of their efforts. These people always pretend to be better than everyone else around them. 

Their attitude toward incompetence or failures is that if the task wasn’t accomplished, it was because everyone else was slacking and the team was responsible for dragging them down.

How to deal with an arrogant person

Cultivate Mindfulness

Cultivate mindful awareness of your surroundings. Whatever you choose to do, do it with intent, thoughtfulness, and as much compassion as possible. 

People who are arrogant cause others to lose their heads and become the worst versions of themselves. 

Analyze how you respond with consideration for yourself and keep a specific goal in mind.  Instead of getting played by someone, become the key player of your own game. 

Be Compassionate

Compassion is important, but just don’t try to help the person. Superiority complexes vary from low self-esteem to an insatiable desire for appreciation to a lack of compassion for those who seem to be less successful. 

Embrace the facts
Embrace the fact that the arrogant person does truly feel superior. More importantly, know that recognizing someone else’s sense of superiority does not imply that you should feel inferior. They have a dilemma that is much more troubling than yours. Consider it a game that you have the choice of not playing.

Be direct in communication

Be direct in your communication. It’s sometimes a good idea to tell the arrogant person how they made you feel. It’s a good idea to tell an arrogant person that, no one is all-knowing, and no one can declare to possess the ultimate truth. Do not hold back if it won’t affect you afterward.

Get a third party involved

Also include moderator or a larger group of individuals. Direct engagement can end up backfiring, which is why introducing in a third party to help dissipate the situation is a good idea. Stand up for yourself  without being spiteful and seek the help you need. You may need to find people to back you up and unite against an exceptionally dangerous arrogant person at times.

Set boundaries

While we may not be able to hand-pick who we work with or interact with, we should set appropriate boundaries. Set boundaries to minimize the damage you face at the hands of an arrogant person. Determine a time limit before you meet with an arrogant person and also what topics you will discuss prior to meeting with them.

Cut ties

This is the last resort. When you find that all else has failed you will have to cut ties. Nobody, whether it be in a professional or personal partnership, should have to keep quiet and suffer silently.

If you find yourself unable to maintain a safe distance even after your best efforts, it may as well be time to consider cutting all ties. 

Conclusion

 In this article we explored the characteristics of an arrogant personality and how to spot an arrogant person. We also looked at ways to deal with arrogant people. If you have any questions or queries please reach out to us!

If you’ve enjoyed the ”Arrogant Personality” you should take a look at ”The Cynical Personality” too.

Frequently Asked Questions: Arrogant Personality Traits

What are the traits of an arrogant person?

They consider themselves to be better than others
They interrupt people mid-conversation
They have a need to be right at all times
They think their appearance matters more than their contribution
You hate weakness of any kind
You have a fake charm but are cruel on the inside

What causes arrogance in a person?

Arrogant people have a strong desire to appear attractive. Another person may feel arrogant or smug over something they believe they do better than you or have which you don’t because they are jealous of your accomplishments or visible lifestyle.

What is an example of arrogance?

If a person thinks that they are above others and knows more than everybody else, or if a person claims he is capable of something he’s not, this is referred to as arrogance. When a person believes he is never wrong, that is an example of arrogance.

Is arrogance positive or negative?

Arrogance has a negative meaning, while confidence has a positive meaning. Confidence is silent, while arrogance seeks to demand reverence from others. People who are arrogant hide their feelings of inferiority. Snobs, excessively proud, obnoxious, patronising, and haughty are all terms used to describe arrogant people.

Are Narcissists arrogant?

A pattern of selfish, arrogant thought and behaviour, a lack of compassion and regard for others, and an overwhelming desire for appreciation are characteristics of narcissistic personality disorder. People with NPD are often described as arrogant, manipulating, self centered, condescending, and challenging by others.

Why is arrogance a bad thing?

It’s critical to maintain awareness because arrogance has the potential to destroy a successful company or group from within. If one member of the team believes they are far more valuable than the others and their behavior goes unaddressed, the rest of the group will become less willing to participate and express their personal thoughts.

References

9 Sad Signs Of An Arrogant Person

6 Ways to Deal with Arrogant People

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