Arrogance is an extreme confidence in one’s own abilities and knowledge with the thinking that everyone else is less capable. There is no accompanying humility, and an arrogant person’s perception of themselves is often inaccurate and instead covers for feelings of insecurity.
Arrogant thinking impacts all facets of life. It is a serious problem in the business world where it can harm your work performance, relationships with employees and coworkers, and company. But it also impacts everything from personal relationships to growth to daily tasks like driving, risking your physical and mental health.
What Makes Arrogance So Harmful?
Arrogance is often confused with confidence, which makes it very difficult to notice arrogant ways of thinking in ourselves. But confidence is the proven knowledge that you can accomplish your tasks with the awareness that there might still be setbacks and you will need the help and input of others. It is a positive trait, and one arrogant people use to self-describe.
On the other hand, arrogance in your personal life and work life leads to:
- Complacency – Because arrogant people perceive themselves as perfect, they have no need to give themselves goals, push themselves, and learn new skills.
- Breakdown of Relationships – Arrogance involves looking down on others. No one ever wants to be made to feel less than, and acting arrogant will cause partners, friends, coworkers, and peers to not trust you or want your company.
- Poor Performance – Without input from others and an overestimation of their capabilities, arrogant thinkers are likely to have less adequate performance at work, in daily tasks, or in their personal endeavors.
- Difficulty Asking for Help – Since arrogant people believe others do not have valuable input, they never seek out help, even if they need it.
While arrogance can make you feel strong and be a coping strategy for low self-esteem initially, long term arrogance is harmful. It contributes to loneliness, depression, and a lack of direction and success. It can also impact your physical health if arrogant thinking pushes you to take unnecessary risks.
It is possible to change arrogant ways of thinking, but it involves first recognizing the pattern. If you feel stuck or have noticed arrogant tendencies, mindfulness, gratitude, and focusing on curtailing these thoughts can help. A trained psychologist can also help you determine if arrogant thinking may be causing issues for you and help you shift to healthier thought processes.
