Narcissists are not humble! It is always about themselves and how superior they are to everyone else.

A narcissist’s arrogance isn’t simply a personality quirk; it’s a deeply ingrained defense mechanism protecting their fragile sense of self. Here’s how they might view their own arrogance and why humility feels like a threat:

Misconstrued as Confidence:

• Narcissists often confuse arrogance with confidence. They believe their inflated sense of self-importance is a sign of strength and capability. “My arrogance just shows everyone how good I am,” they think.

Fear of Inadequacy:

• Their arrogance masks a deep fear of inadequacy. Admitting flaws or weaknesses feels like admitting defeat. Arrogance shields them from facing their insecurities. “If I act superior, nobody will see how truly unsure I am,” is their internal monologue.

Grandiosity and Superiority:

• Their sense of grandiosity convinces them they are inherently better than others. Arrogance is a way of projecting this superiority. “I deserve special treatment and to be admired, so of course I’ll act this way,” their thinking goes.

Humility as Weakness:

• Humility feels like weakness to a narcissist. Admitting they don’t know something or apologizing for mistakes shatters their carefully constructed image of perfection. “If I’m humble, people might not respect me anymore,” they fear.

Dismissive of Criticism:

• Any criticism of their arrogance is seen as a personal attack. They dismiss it with justifications like, “They’re just jealous of my success,” or “They don’t understand me.” This protects their inflated self-image.

Inability to Self-Reflect:

• True self-reflection requires introspection and admitting flaws – a narcissist’s greatest fear. Their arrogance shields them from having to confront their inner vulnerabilities. “There’s nothing wrong with me, so why change?” they reason.

Maintaining the Illusion:

• The narcissist expends a lot of energy maintaining the illusion of their superiority. Arrogance is a tool to keep everyone else believing it too. “If I can keep acting this way, no one will find out the truth,” is their underlying concern.

It’s important to remember that a narcissist’s arrogance is a facade, a carefully constructed mask. However, due to their distorted thinking and deep-seated insecurities, they are often blind to this reality.