Contents
Illusory Superiority Syndrome: How to Spot a Narcissist
Psychology
Narcissistic people are not capable of assessing their own fault or responsibility
The way we see things, and how they really are, often differs. Because even if we think, or see, something in a certain way, it does not mean that it is so. The same thing happens to us when we “look inside ourselves”: many times we see ourselves in a way that does not correspond to “reality.” From this base arises the so-called “impostor syndrome”, which causes people who have gotten good jobs, or have made great achievements, to doubt their own worth by attributing their successes to luck.
But if there are those who distort reality to belittle themselves, on the other side of the scale we find those who consider themselves “better” than they really are. We would then talk about “Narcissistic personality syndrome”, which, as explained by the psychologist of the TAP Center, Sara Prieto, affects people who suffer from it in such a way that they are not able to assess the fault or their own responsibility when the circumstances are not as desired. “Secondly, they believe that it is the fault of others and therefore those who fail or do not do things well. They tend to be very competitive people who tend to exalt and exaggerate their own qualities, this being an image of themselves that they project to others, ”says the professional.
Individualism and the need for validation
«Narcissistic personality disorder is diagnosed from adult life, and affects 2% of the population; mostly men, “says Sara Prieto. People framed within this “syndrome” tend to be individualisticAs well as they need constant external validation to reaffirm their position. However, the psychologist points out that, behind this apparent security and confidence, “certain fears related to failure and rejection can be hidden.”
When it comes to recognizing whether a person is affected by this personality alteration, Sara Prieto explains that they are people who «have a vvery high self-esteem, considering themselves above others ”, as well as“ they have a low capacity for introspection and for valuing their emotional world ”. “One of the most striking characteristics would be their lack of empathy and how they stay focused on themselves,” he adds.
“The importance of social image and the valuation of others are two elements on the rise in today’s society »explains Sara Prieto. Therefore, because this model of behavior is encouraged and rewarded, it can encourage the development of personalities with Nacisist characteristics. And this pattern of thoughts and behaviors have an impact on both a person’s social and work relationships.
“At work, these people may find it difficult to obey the guidelines or instructions of their superiors and have inappropriate behavior with them and their colleagues,” explains the professional. «In affective relationships, relationships are also complex, since these people tend to prioritize their needs above those of the rest, “he says.
The Illusory Superiority Syndrome
Starting from this “narcissistic personality syndrome”, we can also speak of the effect known as Dunning-Kruger, which maintains that many people consider themselves to be more intelligent than they really are. «It is also known as the illusory superiority syndrome», Explains writer and speaker Alex Rovira.
«The Dunning-Kruger effect generates a cognitive bias, since empirical evidence shows that some incompetent individuals are not only unable to recognize their own incompetence, but also tend to overestimate their own ability, and even worse, lack the ability to recognize the competence of others who really know, “says the writer, who adds that this” syndrome “can occur in all kinds of profiles,” from a person with great positions and responsibilities, to a person with a more common day-to-day “.
«In a person of our environment it is easily identified (the illusory superiority) because we speak of the typical« brother-in-law »that we all have in our lives or circle of friends, who seems to know absolutely everything and he talks while sitting down ”, says Alex Rovira, who continues and explains that“ these profiles think they are very smart and consider that their knowledge is above average, underestimating the intelligence of their interlocutor ”. We speak then of an intellectual narcissism.
Dunning-Kruger syndrome can be dangerous. “If a person who considers that he knows more than he really knows, has access to power, he makes his decisions from a real ignorance and they can have an effect (usually very negative) on a wide group of the population” warns the writer.