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| How Success Can Make You Arrogant and How to Avoid It |
Success is something that most people aspire to achieve in their lives. Whether it is in their careers, relationships, hobbies or personal goals, success can bring a sense of satisfaction, fulfillment and happiness. However, success can also have a dark side: it can make you arrogant.
Arrogance is a personality trait that is characterized by a stable belief of superiority and exaggerated self-importance that are manifested with excessive and presumptuous claims1. Arrogant people tend to overestimate their abilities, achievements and worth, while underestimating or dismissing those of others. They also tend to express anger, hostility and aggression more often than others.
Arrogance is not only unpleasant and annoying for others, but it can also be harmful for oneself. Arrogant people may alienate themselves from their friends, family and colleagues, who may perceive them as rude, disrespectful and selfish. They may also face more conflicts, challenges and failures in their endeavors, as they may not be open to feedback, learning or collaboration. They may also suffer from low self-esteem, insecurity and anxiety, as they may constantly feel the need to prove themselves and maintain their inflated image.
So why do some successful people become arrogant? And how can you prevent yourself from falling into this trap? Here are some possible explanations and tips:
Success can boost your ego
One of the reasons why success can make you arrogant is that it can boost your ego. Ego is the part of your self that is concerned with your identity, self-image and self-worth. When you achieve something that you value or that others admire, your ego may feel validated and enhanced. You may feel proud of yourself and confident in your abilities. You may also feel superior to others who have not achieved the same level of success as you.
While there is nothing wrong with having a healthy ego and feeling good about yourself, problems arise when your ego becomes too big for your own good. When you let your success define who you are and how you relate to others, you may lose sight of your true self and your true values. You may become obsessed with maintaining your status and reputation, and disregard the feelings and needs of others. You may also become defensive and resistant to any criticism or challenge that may threaten your ego.
To avoid this pitfall, you need to keep your ego in check. You need to remember that your success is not the only thing that matters in life, and that it does not make you better or worse than anyone else. You need to appreciate your success, but also acknowledge your limitations, mistakes and areas of improvement. You need to be humble and grateful for what you have achieved, but also for what others have contributed to your success. You need to be respectful and compassionate towards others, regardless of their level of success or failure.
Success can create a feedback loop
Another reason why success can make you arrogant is that it can create a feedback loop. A feedback loop is a process in which the output of a system influences the input of the same system. In other words, what you do affects what happens to you, which in turn affects what you do next.
When you achieve success in something, you may receive positive feedback from yourself or from others. You may feel happy, satisfied and motivated to continue doing what you are doing. You may also receive praise, recognition and rewards from others who appreciate your work or performance. This positive feedback can reinforce your belief that you are doing well and that you deserve more success.
However, this feedback loop can also become distorted and dysfunctional over time. When you receive too much positive feedback without any negative feedback, you may develop a confirmation bias. A confirmation bias is a tendency to seek out or interpret information that confirms what you already believe or want to believe. You may ignore or reject any evidence or feedback that contradicts or challenges your views or actions. You may also surround yourself with people who agree with you or flatter you, and avoid those who disagree with you or criticize you.
This confirmation bias can lead to arrogance, as you may become overconfident in your opinions and decisions, and unwilling to admit any errors or flaws. You may also become insensitive or hostile towards those who have different perspectives or experiences than yours. You may think that you know everything and that you have nothing to learn from anyone else.
To avoid this pitfall, you need to break the feedback loop. You need to expose yourself to different sources of information and feedback that can challenge your assumptions and beliefs. You need to listen to and learn from others who have different views or experiences than yours, and respect their opinions and perspectives. You need to be open-minded and curious, and willing to change your mind or behavior when you encounter new evidence or feedback. You need to seek out constructive criticism and feedback that can help you improve and grow.
Success can change your brain
A third reason why success can make you arrogant is that it can change your brain. Success can affect your brain chemistry and structure in various ways, depending on how you achieve it and how you respond to it.
One of the brain chemicals that is involved in success is dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for reward, motivation and pleasure. When you achieve something that you value or that others admire, your brain releases dopamine, which makes you feel good and motivated to pursue more rewards. Dopamine also helps you learn from your experiences and reinforce your behaviors.
However, dopamine can also have negative effects on your brain and personality. When you become addicted to success and the dopamine rush that comes with it, you may develop a tolerance and a dependence on it. You may need more and more success to feel the same level of satisfaction and happiness. You may also become restless, impulsive and risk-seeking, as you may crave more challenges and excitement. You may also become less empathetic, as dopamine can impair your ability to understand and share the emotions of others.
Another brain chemical that is involved in success is testosterone. Testosterone is a hormone that is associated with dominance, aggression and competitiveness. When you achieve success in something that involves competition or social status, your brain increases the production of testosterone, which makes you feel more confident, assertive and powerful. Testosterone also helps you cope with stress and challenges, and enhances your performance.
However, testosterone can also have negative effects on your brain and personality. When you have too much testosterone in your system, you may become more arrogant, aggressive and antisocial. You may also become more prone to cheating, lying and manipulating others to get what you want. You may also become less rational, as testosterone can impair your cognitive abilities and judgment.
To avoid this pitfall, you need to balance your brain chemistry. You need to moderate your exposure to success and the brain chemicals that come with it. You need to diversify your sources of reward and pleasure, and not rely solely on external validation or recognition. You need to find intrinsic motivation and meaning in what you do, and not just extrinsic rewards or status. You need to engage in activities that can reduce your stress levels and balance your hormones, such as exercise, meditation or socializing with friends .
Success is a wonderful thing that can bring many benefits to your life. However, it can also make you arrogant if you are not careful. Arrogance is a personality trait that can harm yourself and others, and prevent you from achieving more success in the future.
To prevent yourself from becoming arrogant due to success, you need to keep your ego in check, break the feedback loop, and balance your brain chemistry. You need to be humble, open-minded and empathetic towards yourself and others. You need to appreciate your success, but also acknowledge your limitations, mistakes and areas of improvement. You need to be respectful and compassionate towards others, regardless of their level of success or failure.
By doing so, you will not only avoid the pitfalls of arrogance, but also enhance the benefits of success. You will be happier, healthier and more fulfilled in your life. You will also be more likely to achieve more success in the future, as you will be able to learn from your experiences, collaborate with others, and adapt to changing circumstances.
Success does not have to make you arrogant. It can make you a better person instead.
