Egolatry: 12 traits and attitudes of egotistical people

The concept of egotism It is used to refer to various traits and attitudes that certain people present. The term egotism comes from the Greek "ego" (I) and "latria" (cult, admiration), and has implications in the world of psychology, since indicates a certain personality type.

Egolatry: a definition of the concept

The Royal Spanish Academy defines egotism as "excessive self-worship, adoration, or love."

Egolatry is thus a personality trait of some individuals, in which they constantly display a confidence in their own potential, falling into self-admiration and self-worship, to the point where this exaggerated perception can be pathological and cause problems in social interactions.

What are egotistical people like?

Individuals who have egomaniacal traits and characteristics tend to generate rejection among the people around them. In addition, the egotistical personality has been present in many historical figures.

For example, in biographies and historiographical documents we attest that Adolf Hitler, Napoleon Bonaparte, Genghis Khan and Josif Stalin were historical figures with a marked character egotistical. At present, perhaps the most popular reference is the tycoon and current president of the United States,

Donald trump.

In this sense, egotism is usually related to other concepts, such as egocentrism, the narcissism, the pride, the excessive self-esteem, the false self-confidence wave megalomania.

Although there are aspects in which these concepts coincide, there are also some important differences and nuances. In any case, it should be taken into account that egotism refers to a subjective perception of the individual, how he perceives his worth, in this case in an exaggeratedly positive way. However, egotism tells us little about the translation of this perception to interpersonal relationships. That is to say: an egomaniacal person can be, and yet the people around him may not perceive him as especially vain or arrogant.

When this characteristic is compensated

Reading the meaning of the word egotism, we may think that it is a characteristic that produces rejection. However, in certain cases being egotistical is very practical. For example, when your own well-being depends on attracting attention.

This is the case of many famous people, who naturally express their ideas of grandeur through what they do, say and appear to be; This makes them receive the attention of the cameras and continue to charge more thanks to it.

12 common traits and attitudes

However, Yes, it is common for egomaniacal people to show this trait through certain attitudes and behaviors. that may be objectionable by other individuals.

Some of these attitudes, behaviors, and traits are described below:

• They have an exaggerated perception of their attributes and qualities
• They attach great importance to money and power
• They have feelings of greatness: they are sure that in their life they will achieve great goals and objectives
• Although they may enjoy social skills more than enough, they tend to be rather lonely individuals, since they often generate a certain social rejection when other people realize their egotism
• They tend to show great attachment to all aspects that reinforce their image of successful People
• They like to generate envy and jealousy in others
• They can tend to superficiality, forging instrumental friendships that allow them to achieve certain purposes and gain status.
• They distort reality, and in some cases they may find it difficult to carry out a rational analysis of their personal worth.
• In some cases, they may be people with little empathy, unwilling to offer help and support to others
• They can't stand receiving criticism and they take it personally
• They may tend to constantly compare themselves with others, getting angry if they consider that someone of less worth than they are in a better job or have a more affluent life
• In certain cases a tendency to exhibitionism is perceived, for example by showing off achievements material and economic, as a way to reinforce their self-perception of people of great worth and status Social

Causes and motivations of this type of individuals

From a psychological point of view, there are many factors and motivations that can lead a person to develop this characteristic. Egolatry is a trait associated with certain affective and emotional deficiencies, since it is usually understood from psychology that a person with a balanced emotional intelligence it does not need to perceive itself as something it is not.

In this sense, egotism could be a warning sign of people who, paradoxically, suffer from affective or emotional deficiencies or even suffer from some underlying mental disorder. Egolatry would be, in somewhat metaphorical terms, a flight forward of people who camouflage their insecurity in these types of hyperbolic thoughts and beliefs about their abilities and potentialities in life.

From a social point of view, egotism is understood as the reflection or consequence of a commodified and class society in the personality of some individuals. The differences between social classes and their lifestyle could generate a constant competition between individuals to achieve promotion in their status, which would be a perfect breeding ground for individualism, careerism, the undervaluation of certain moral principles, and also of egotism as a characteristic of the personality adapted to this competitive environment and in which appearances prevail over others qualities. Thus, the cravings for success in life it can be a starting point that, poorly managed, can lead to the development of problematic and limiting personalities and attitudes.

Self-centered people may be able to carry out large projects and companies, but at the same time they may have difficulties in establishing deep relationships with other people.

Egolatry and the education received

Nevertheless, egotism is not a trait exclusively focused on obtaining money or power, but can have different motivations. The egotistical personality style can have several causes, including the type of education and parenting style that the individual has received.

A parenting style that is too permissive and accommodating to the child can lead to problems such as oppositional defiant disorder (TOD), also know as emperor syndrome, in which the little one defies the authority of the parents and acts capriciously to get everything he wants. This type of education could lead to a self-centered personality in adulthood.

Recapping: social relationships and difficulties

Egolatry can be a trait that causes serious difficulties in interpersonal relationships, since the individual can present various behaviors and attitudes that generate rejection in other people.

However, in certain contexts, personalities characterized by egotism can be socially rewarded; For example, in the case of famous people who are always looking for new ways to reinvent themselves and to stand out; this would help them keep their cache high and continue to receive income and influence power.

On the other hand, when a person considers himself superior and more valuable than others, he usually perceives other people as unimportant, useless and expendable. This generates a feeling of rejection in their environment of friends and acquaintances, because few people are willing to tolerate being treated with contempt.

It is important to note that, although it may be complicated, Ideally, egotistical people can receive professional advice to try to restructure their perception of themselves., a fact that will have a positive impact on your mental health and on the quality and quantity of your personal relationships, allowing you to enjoy a much fuller and happier life.

Bibliographic references:

• Freud, Sigmund. Complete works. Volume XIV: Works on metapsychology, and other works (1914-1916), "Contribution to the history of the psychoanalytic movement." Chapter II: Introduction of Narcissism (1914). Buenos Aires / Madrid: Amorrortu, 1979.
• Lasch, Christopher. The culture of narcissism. Editorial Andrés Bello, 1999.