‘Playing The Victim’ And 6 Other Things People With Inflated Egos Always Do (Watch For These Red Flags)
We've all met someone who we believe has a bit too big of a head about a lot of things. They're a bit too brash, too confident, to the point where it becomes cocky and ruins things for everyone else around.
These types are not easy to work with, but we can sometimes struggle to identify them, wanting to think the best of people and pegging their self-centered behavior for mere confidence.
Avoid placing all the faith in yourself by placing some faith in the divinity that surrounds you. You're strong but can become even stronger if you see the patterns, signs, and messages being sent to you.
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Getting Too Big
Egos can be a tricky thing. While confidence is needed for success in any area of life, it can easily cross the line into unhealthy territory. People with high levels of confidence can either be inspiring or infuriating, for their conviction can become an entitlement, and their faith can become cockiness.
Knowing the difference at first glance can sometimes be tough, so here are some signs to look out for so you can spot someone who's ego has long since gotten the better of them.
1. They Rarely Show Genuine Interest In Others
Those with inflated egos often struggle to show genuine interest in other people's lives. They might ask questions, but their inquiries are usually superficial and self-serving. The conversation quickly shifts back to them, their life, and their thoughts.
This lack of genuine interest can be isolating for those around them. It creates an environment where others feel like their lives don’t matter or that their words carry no value. This behavior is a clear indicator of someone who's more invested in their own self-image than in building any kind of relationship.
2. They're Overly Defensive
People with inflated egos are often extremely defensive of their actions, decisions, and lifestyle. They perceive even mild criticism as a personal attack and react aggressively in response. This defensiveness is a way to protect their fragile self-image and stave away any further critique.
Being overly defensive makes it difficult for them to grow and improve, never able to see their flaws as flaws. They figure if they overreact when people point out their flaws, people will eventually stop doing it, not wanting to deal with their overly emotional reaction.
3. They Have An Overly Competitive Nature
For people with inflated egos, life is a constant competition. They feel the need to outperform others in every aspect, whether it's at work, in social settings, or even in trivial matters. This competitiveness is driven by a deep-seated need to prove their superiority over others.
This behavior can strain relationships and create a hostile environment. It’s hard to get closer to someone when they're always trying to outdo you. The constant competition can also lead to unnecessary stress and conflict, driving more people away the more intense they get about needing to win.
4. They Tend To Be Overly Dramatic
Inflated egos often come with a flair for the dramatic. These types of people exaggerate all types of situations to make themselves appear more important or to gain attention. Whether it's a minor inconvenience or a significant event, they blow things out of proportion.
This dramatization is a way to keep the spotlight on them. It ensures they remain the center of attention regardless of what actually happened. This behavior can be exhausting for those around them, especially those who know the truth, watching them blatantly lie for personal gain.
5. They Have Difficulty Apologizing
Saying "I'm sorry" is incredibly difficult, impossible even, for someone with an inflated ego. When forced to apologize, it often comes with qualifications or deflections, like “I’m sorry you feel that way.” This reluctance to apologize stems from viewing it as an admission of inferiority.
This refusal to apologize maturely can cause massive strain in their relationships since genuine apologies are needed to resolve conflicts and build trust. When someone consistently fails to offer sincere apologies, it only leads to unresolved issues and lingering resentment.
6. They Interrupt Conversations Frequently
People with inflated egos often feel the need to dominate conversations. They interrupt others mid-sentence, believing that what they have to say is more important, wanting to assert their dominance and control the narrative. It's not just about being heard; it’s about overshadowing everyone else in the room.
When someone constantly interrupts, it shows a lack of respect for the speaker. They're more focused on their own thoughts and opinions than on what others have to contribute. This behavior can make any kind of meaningful conversations difficult and leave others feeling ignored.
7. They Often Play The Victim
People with inflated egos often adopt a victim mentality when things don't go their way. They're quick to blame others for their problems, rarely taking responsibility for their actions or the consequences that become of them. They do this to both deflect criticism and maintain their self-image. They can't be perfect if they've done something wrong, so they never do anything wrong! In their eyes, anyway.
It’s a manipulative tactic that shifts the focus away from their shortcomings and places the blame on external factors, oftentimes other people, further driving wedges in their relationships.
Confidence Into Ego
While everyone has moments of pride, consistent patterns of these behaviors are indicative of an overblown self-importance. You should be proud of yourself, your accomplishments, and your passions, so long as you recognize when you're toeing the line of self-importance and reel yourself back.
These signs can help you spot someone who's too full of themselves, but let's be honest—we all know one when we meet one. Don't let their behavior get to you. That's what they want—they want to be in your head. Push them out.
