Egomaniacal personality: what is it and how to identify it?

We all, to a greater or lesser extent, encounter an egomaniac in our lives. If we have been lucky, it is ephemeral or we were able to get away; With less luck, we will have dealt with a very harmful defense method against our own insecurities.

But what does this personality consist of? Is everyone who loves themselves? No. It is important differentiate self-worship from good self-esteem, to act effectively in the relationship. Therefore, here you will find a detailed definition and some signs that help identify these individuals.

What is the egomaniacal personality?

Egolatry is the attitude of adoration towards one’s own person. Therefore, the egomaniac He is one whose self-love goes beyond what is healthy and realistic, boasting to the point of creating a cult for himself.

This exaggerated vision is the cause of problems in social relationships, as it implies a distorted self-perception and feelings of superiority.

Traits and behaviors that characterize egomania

An egomaniacal personality is characterized, as we have said, by self-worship. Below, we share its distinctive features.

1. They do not tolerate criticism well

They respond to them with aggression or denial. They tend to have a defensive attitude as soon as they detect any threat to their “greatness.” On the other hand, they seek praise from others.

2. They feel superior

Egomaniacs flaunt achievements and possessions and They enjoy when another person is envious or jealous of them. In fact, their analyzes of situations are distorted, since they are done from the prism of superiority.

They have feelings of greatness (without being delusions): they believe that they are destined to achieve great things.

They also make comparisons very often, both with themselves and between other people. Furthermore, it is common to see that they attribute traits and motivations to others that seem incorrect, since they are projections of themselves.

It is theorized that This aggrandizement of one’s own person is a barrier to not confront, paradoxically, feelings of inferiority. A diminished self-esteem, which leads to the need for admiration and which, in turn, tries to be achieved through self-exaltation.

3. They are materialistic

Egomaniacs give a lot of importance to symbols of power, such as money or material possessions. They tend toward exhibitionism, in the sense of showing off their possessions and their own abilities.

4. They have little functional and satisfactory social relationships

These people usually cause social rejection, which is why they tend to be solitary. Their empathy is not developed, although they do not lack it; They just don’t connect with others as often or as deeply as someone who doesn’t have this personality. Because of this, they belittle or do not take into account the needs and emotions of others.

They also tend to project their own insecurities and fears onto their social relationships.

5. Poor ethics

They use unethical methods to be above others, such as aggressive criticism or humiliation. Their relationships therefore tend to be superficial and often utilitarian.

Is egomania a disorder?

Being egomaniacal is a personality type, not a disorder, so it has no place in the Nosological Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-V. Now, if these traits are exacerbated, to the point of producing an inability to lead a normal life (losing jobs, social isolation, conflicts, etc.), one could think of a narcissistic personality disorder (NPD).

Many times, The boundary between both labels is diffuse and the intervention of a psychology professional is required. to differentiate them.

How to deal with an egomaniac?

Recommendations for dealing with someone who has this personality type are similar to those for narcissistic disorder. Being people who look down on others and are too focused on themselves, The first advice is usually to get away as soon as possible.

This is because they are quite impervious to the influence of others, since the façade of superiority seeks just that: not to suffer from possible contempt from others.

In certain settings, such as work or home, it is not possible to end the relationship. In these cases, the expert recommendation is Set strict boundaries when dealing with them and limit interactions. Some examples would be the following:

Don’t give in to their flattery: Most likely there are manipulation intentions behind it.Don’t compete: Confronting these people in that sense only manages to escalate the conflict.Try not to take their words and actions personally: Remember that they are the center of their own universe.Define your deal: If they want to talk to you, limit their time. Do not let yourself be interrupted or go in to respond to their attacks.Use assertiveness: “I’m not going to tolerate you speaking badly about my partner,” “if you’re going to break these rules, do it alone,” etc. It is the only way to stop the pressure they exert to control others.

Egomania and therapy

Finally, you should know that this type of personality can be polished and improved with the help of psychological therapy. In consultation they are usually used techniques such as cognitive restructuring or systematic desensitization, for biases and errors in interpretation and to help better tolerate rejection and criticism, respectively.

Remember that egomaniacs hide their insecurity behind a mask of superiority and have a great need for approval. In no case is it your responsibility to “fix” them. However, it is not productive to go to war with them either, since they are also suffering.

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