Egolatry: 12 traits and attitudes of egomaniacs

Why do some people think they are so superior to others?

The concept of egolatry is used to refer to various traits and attitudes displayed by certain people.

The term egolatry comes from the Greek "ego" (self) and "latria" (worship, admiration), and has implications in the world of psychology, since it indicates a certain personality type.

Egolatry: a definition of the concept

The Royal Spanish Academy defines egolatry as "worship, adoration or excessive love of oneself".

Egolatry is thus a characteristic of the personality of some individuals, in which they constantly flaunt a confidence in their own potential, falling into self-admiration.This exaggerated perception can be pathological and cause problems in social interactions.

What are egomaniacs like?

Individuals who have egomaniacal traits and characteristics usually generate rejection among the people around them. Moreover, the egomaniacal personality has been present in many historical characters.

For example, biographies and historiographic documents attest that Adolf Hitler, Napoleon Bonaparte, Genghis Khan and Josif Stalin were historical figures with a markedly egomaniacal character. Currently, perhaps the most popular reference is the tycoon and current president of the United States, Donald Trump.

In this sense, egolatry is often related to other concepts, such as egocentrism, narcissism, arrogance, excessive self-esteem, false self-confidence or megalomania.

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

When this characteristic is compensated

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

This is the case with many celebrities, who naturally express their ideas of grandiosity through what they do, say and appear to be; this gets them the attention of the cameras and keeps them getting paid more because of it.

12 common traits and attitudes

However, it is common for egomaniacs to However, it is common that egomaniacs tend to externalize this trait through certain attitudes and behaviors that may be rejected by other individuals. that may be rejected by other individuals.

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

• They have an exaggerated perception about their attributes and qualities.
• They place great importance on money and power.
• They have feelings of grandeur: they are confident that they will achieve great goals and objectives in their life.
• Although they may have more than sufficient social skills, they tend to be rather solitary individuals, as they often generate a certain social rejection when other people notice their egomania.
• They tend to show a great attachment to all aspects that reinforce their image as successful people.
• They like to generate envy and jealousy in others.
• They may tend to superficiality, making instrumental friendships that allow them to achieve certain purposes and gain status.
• They distort reality, and in some cases may have difficulty in carrying 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 other people
• They do not tolerate criticism and take it personally.
• They may tend to constantly compare themselves with others, becoming angry if they feel that someone of lesser worth than themselves is in a better job or has a better life.
• In certain cases, a tendency to exhibitionism is perceived, for example, showing off material and economic achievements, as a way of reinforcing their self-perception as persons of great value and social status.

Causes and motivations of this type of individual

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 the point of view of the individual.It is usually understood from psychology that a person with a balanced emotional intelligence does not need to perceive him/herself as something he/she is not.

In this sense, egolatry could be a warning sign of people who, paradoxically, suffer affective and 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 this type of hyperbolic thoughts and beliefs about their capabilities and potentialities in life. and potential in life.

From the social point of view, egolatry is understood as the reflection or consequence of a commercialized and classist society in the personality of some individuals.. The differences between social classes and their lifestyle could generate a constant competition between individuals to rise in status, which would be a perfect breeding ground for individualism, careerism, undervaluation of certain moral principles, and also egolatry as a characteristic of the personality adapted to this competitive environment and in which appearances take precedence over other qualities. Thus, the desire to succeed in life can be a starting point that, if mismanaged, can lead to the development of problematic and limiting personalities and attitudes.

Egomaniacs may be capable of carrying out large-scale projects and enterprises, but they may have difficulties in establishing a successful life.They may have difficulties in establishing deep relationships with other people.

Egolatry and the education received

Nevertheless, egolatry is not a trait exclusively focused on obtaining money or power, but can have different motivations.. The egomaniacal personality style can have several causes, among them the type of education and style of upbringing that the individual has received.

A parenting style that is too permissive and complacent with the child can generate problems such as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), also known as emperor syndrome, in which the child defies parental authority and acts capriciously to get everything he or she wants. This type of upbringing could lead to a self-centered personality in adulthood.

To recapitulate: social relationships and difficulties

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

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

On the other hand, when a person considers him/herself superior and more valuable than others, he/she tends to perceive others as unimportant, useless and dispensable. 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 emphasize that, although it may be complicated, ideally, egomaniacs should receive professional counseling to try to restructure their self-perception.This 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.