EGÓLATRA: MEANING, ORIGIN AND SIGNS - GEOGRAFÍA - 2025

An egomaniac is a person who believes that she has many positive qualities, expects admiration from others and positive treatment; they are people who have an excessive love for themselves. In the strict etymological sense, ego comes from the Latin and Greek languages ​​and means I. On the other hand, latria (also derived from these languages) refers to worship and / or adoration. That is, egotism is the worship and adoration of oneself.

Therefore, egotistical people are those who have high esteem for themselves, expecting that the response from others will be the same. At this point, it should be noted that an egotistical person is not the same as someone with good self-esteem. They are different concepts and that we will see later.

At the pathological extreme of egotism, we find narcissistic personality disorder. They are people who show a predominant pattern of greatness, who present a need for admiration from others and, in addition, a marked lack of empathy. This disorder is very disabling for people who suffer from it, since the affectation it produces occurs both personally and socially.

What's the problem with egomaniacal people?

Anyone can suffer, throughout his life, certain behaviors or tendencies to egotism at specific moments or, in certain contexts. The problem is real when they become chronic, thus shaping the individual's personality and causing a great decline in their social relationships.

These types of people tend to arouse social rejection and, thus, see their support networks diminish. Although it should be noted that different very relevant historical figures have been described as people with a tendency to egotism, such as Iósif Stalin and Napoleon Bonaparte.

On the other hand, it is important to highlight the fact that many of these people, who have characteristics of selfishness, are not identified as such by the people around them, nor are they capable of identifying this series of characteristic behaviors.

In fact, people who are in the close circle of an egomaniac can display helpful and even submissive behaviors.

Possible origin of egotism

There are several explanations that tell us about the origin of egotism and, undoubtedly, these will vary according to the person and their context.

One of these explanations affirms that this type of behavior and egomaniacal behaviors are a response to the educational style that the person has received since early childhood.

Normally, parents and caregivers of people who will later develop this type of personality have adopted an educational style based on overprotection and impositions. The lack of limits and the inoculation of feelings such as pride and arrogance are also common.

In relation to this theory, we perceive that egotism is a kind of alert mechanism for people who do not have their emotional or affective needs covered. There may even be a mental illness.

Social theories indicate that egotism could be understood as a reflection of the society in which we live in which everything material is rewarded and achievements are constantly measured, from the beginning of the development of individuals.

What is certain is that egotism tends to individualism and this fact is very present in current cultures that increasingly tend towards greater loneliness. It may be that this mechanism does not explain the behavior of egomaniacal people, but it does maintain all this series of behaviors and attitudes towards life.

Development of egotistical people

People with egotistical characteristics may or may not have successful lives. Even if your life is not like that, you will be constantly chasing new goals and after new goals. What is behind all this behavior is the need for approval they have from others and the continuous demand for attention they require.

If these personalities are not managed properly, they can lead to serious mental disorders such as narcissistic personality disorder, episodes of depression and there may even be cases of substance addiction with the added organic affectation that they entail.

An egomaniacal person may have developed this pattern of behavior as a result of a mental illness, so in some cases it can be difficult to discern what precedes what, the illness or the way to act.

Characteristics that define selfish people

1- They consider that the way of doing things should be their own and no other

This fact can bring tremendous conflicts with others when they want to impose their own criteria regardless of what others think or feel. In this way, low levels or lack of empathy are detected.

Furthermore, they equate the absence of commitment with the loss. That is, if someone does not act in the way that is "correct" for them, these types of people feel that the other is breaching the social commitment acquired in the relationship.

In the same way that you do not like others to act contrary to yours, egotistical people cannot bear to be opposed.

2- They have to be the focus of attention

It is characteristic of people with a tendency to egotism that, in any social gathering or conversation, whether for leisure or work, they have to be the center of attention and that, in addition, they must be admired by the rest.

This is the mechanism they use to validate themselves. When they feel that they are treated with interest and importance, they see their position and way of acting reinforced.

3- They avoid contact with everything that confronts them

In relation to the previous point, it is also common for egomaniacal people to tend to create stronger attachment bonds with those who reinforce their image of successful people.

In addition, they avoid contact with people who confront them or question those things they boast about.

4- They need to be continuously recognized

They need recognition for everything they do, they have a continuous need for approval. They must feed their ego through the praise of others. Through compliments and social recognition, he is making up for the low levels of self-esteem they present.

As we saw in the introduction of the post, at the opposite extreme from that of egotism, we find people with high self-esteem. The main difference is that they do not need social recognition.

They are satisfied with themselves and with what they have and with their own way of being and relating. People with high self-esteem do not need social recognition to feel good or to reinforce their self-image.

5- They present a tendency to constantly compare

They need to feel that their earnings are greater than those of others and that their possessions are better. As we are seeing with all these characteristics, it is very important for them to feel above others and it is also the case with earnings and possessions.

6- They show an attitude of "being on the defensive" normally

By not supporting being outdone by others, they are always measuring themselves and comparing themselves with the rest. This fact, continually comparing themselves, can cause them great anxiety and frustration when they do not feel above others.

In addition, when they get angry, they take an over-acting, feigned attitude and much greater than the magnitude that the situation really deserves.

7- His success is accompanied by the failure of his close people

Once again, we see low empathy present or the absence of it. A person with egomaniacal characteristics, if the situation requires it, will humiliate and trample those close to him to fulfill the objective that he has proposed.

8- They neglect social relationships

Being a friend or companion of someone who is constantly measuring himself and who needs continuous reinforcement, tires, exhausts and weakens the bond.

Self-centered people tend to forget that social relationships, as well as friendship, are two-way processes and that to maintain them they must show interest and support for those around them.

Despite the fact that they are people who have good social skills, they are usually seen alone due to all the social rejection they generate and that has been commented previously.

9- They are a mirror

This means that, instead of showing what their shortcomings are, they tend to identify them on others and project them onto others.

For example, if they feel that they are alone, they will attack someone, usually the weakest, accusing them of being a person with few relationships.

This reason is another added to the problems they have in the performance of social relationships.

10- They have artificial and instrumental social relationships

That is, they seek to link with someone to achieve a goal, to obtain the support they need. Therefore, these relationships are often superficial and with a marked absence of emotion.

11- They tend to have problems perceiving reality

Norma Desmond, main character in "Twilight of the Gods" is an example of narcissism and pride taken to its maximum exponential

Due to their tendency to distort reality to bring it closer to what they really want to happen and not to what actually takes place, they may have problems making a rational analysis of the situation.

12- They hate being criticized

They have such an idealized image of themselves that they are unable to listen to their weaknesses because they do not accept what others may say to them.

13- They are exhibitionists

For these types of people it is important to show off and brag about all their achievements. Showing all their material goods, they reinforce their personal image, as well as their social status.

In fact, the topics they feel most comfortable talking about are those related to material goods and money.

14- They take pride in creating envy and jealousy

They feel good generating feelings like envy and jealousy in their close relationships and circles. In this way, by unleashing this type of feelings, they see their idea of ​​superiority over the rest reinforced, forging their self-perception.

15- They feel special

They feel that they are special people and that, for this reason, they are not understood by the rest. The only people who could understand them are those who are at the same level or belong to the same status.

Egolatry: a problem or a gift?

The personality of egomaniacal people arises, it supposes them in a problem or, it serves as an impulse to achieve all those objectives that are proposed. The truth is that as every time we speak within the field of psychology, all this will depend on the person and the way they handle it.

There may be cases like those of famous and successful people that having certain egomaniacal characteristics will serve as an impetus to be continually renewing themselves and fighting to stay ahead. This fact reminds managers and workers of companies who are committed to innovation and pour all their work into it.

At the other extreme, we can find people who really do have a problem. That they are alone due to the way they act and that their tendency to egotism does not serve as an impulse, but as a barrier in social relationships.

Therefore, it is clear that, in these cases, the performance of the professional psychologist is important. People with this type of behavior require support in proper emotional management, as well as training in social skills to successfully conduct their relationships.

Also, it is very important that you restructure your self-perception and perceive yourself in a real way and not with the bombastic image that you have of yourself.

Similarly, the psychologist must deal with all the disorders and comorbid characteristics that may appear.

References

1. American Psychiatric Association (2014). Reference guide to the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-5tm.
2. Dictionary of the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language. Web version.
3. Ehow. How to know if someone has a big ego. Website:.ehowenespanol.com.
4. MedLine Plus. Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Website: medlineplus.gov.
5. Psychologists in Madrid EU. Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Website: psicologosenmadrid.eu.
6. RECARDER, Bertrand. Egolatry: 12 traits and attitudes of egotistical people. Website: psicologiaymente.net.
7. ROCK, Rachel. How to recognize an egomaniac (and the distance in km you must keep). Website: raquelroca.com.