Confidence vs Arrogance: 6 Key Differences You Must Know About

When you look at confidence vs arrogance, what comes to mind?

While confidence and arrogance are closely related, some distinct differences set the two apart. And let it be clear: 

Arrogant people are often NOT confident.

So, what’s the difference between confidence and arrogance? And how to ensure that your confidence doesn’t turn into arrogance?

In this article, you’ll learn:

• Definition of a confident person
• Definition of an arrogant person
• Differences between confidence and arrogance
• Similarities between arrogance and confidence
• How to be less arrogant – or avoid it altogether

Also, check out the other articles in this series, including this guide on self-confidence and self-esteem, how to be more confident, and the best books to improve self-esteem.

So, let’s dive in!

Definition of a confident person

Confident people have high self-esteem, a positive self-image, and a strong belief in their own abilities. They exude inner calm and self-assurance grounded in self-awareness. 

Confidence also enhances an open-minded and optimistic attitude. Being confident means valuing self-improvement, embracing challenges, leaning into your strengths and knowing your weaknesses.

Confident leaders inspire trust, listen to others, respect differences, and cultivate harmonious relationships.

The cocktail of those qualities instills a strong sense of humility.

Examples of confident people

Do you know a confident person in your inner circle? And what qualities can you identify that makes them so confident?

Here are some famous examples of confident individuals:

1. Serena Williams is a tennis champion that shows confidence on and off the court, demonstrating unwavering belief in her skills, determination, and ability to overcome challenges.
2. Oprah Winfrey is a media mogul who’s very confident in connecting with people, sharing her most authentic self.
3. Elon Musk is the most innovative entrepreneur of the 21st century and CEO of SpaceX and Tesla. He’s a confident introvert, has tons of self-trust, and fearlessly takes big risks to pursue a very bold future. Yet, he remains humble, often stating that SpaceX only had a 10% chance of success.

A confident individual is also a confident leader, meaning they’ve got a clear sense of who they are, who they want to become, and the difference they seek to make. 

Upsides of confidence

We covered the benefits in this article: what is self-confidence? But here’s a brief overview:

• Higher self-esteem
• Increased resilience
• Enhanced motivation
• Better decision-making skills
• Better problem-solving skills
• Improved communication
• Increased assertiveness
• Greater opportunities
• Improved well-being
• Increased influence
• Higher levels of overall life satisfaction and fulfillment

In addition, the benefits of being a confident leader is that you inspire trust and encourage the people around you, increasing the performance and well-being of everyone.

The benefits are clear: regardless of your ambition or goals, more self-confidence leads to more success, well-being, joy, and happiness.

But what about arrogance?

Definition of an arrogant person

Like confident people, an arrogant person has a positive self-image and self-belief in one’s abilities. However, their confidence is rooted in their own ego and an inflated sense of self-importance, not self-awareness.

Arrogant people tend to see themselves as perfect and are reluctant to admit mistakes or weaknesses – often accompanied by a need for external validation and recognition.

What about social settings?

Arrogant individuals appear overly confident and seek superiority to cover their shortcomings. They lack empathy, have no genuine interest in others, and often have a dismissive or condescending attitude.

In conclusion, arrogance hinders personal growth, limits the depth of relationships, and can create a negative atmosphere.

Signs of arrogance

Displaying a few of the signs below doesn’t necessarily make someone arrogant. However, the more these negative aspects someone displays, the higher their likelihood of being somewhat arrogant:

• Constantly seeking attention
• Interrupting or dominating conversations
• Dismissing others’ opinions or ideas
• Lacking empathy towards others
• Refusing to admit mistakes
• Ignoring constructive feedback
• Seeking only positive feedback
• Lacking a sense of responsibility
• Displaying a sense of entitlement
• Exaggerating achievements or one’s abilities
• Demonstrating a need to always be right
• Behaving with a self-centered attitude
• Engaging in excessive self-promotion
• Displaying self-centered behavior
• Showing off towards others
• Acting disrespectful or rude
• Belittling others
• Or even intimidating others

Examples of arrogant people

Below is a list of examples of some arrogant people.

But note that I judge from a limited perspective; TV and mass media. And these sources only provide a limited and one-sided view of one’s – often scripted – personality.

That said, below is a short list of people who appear to have a higher degree of arrogance, based on their media appearances:

1. Gordon Ramsay is a celebrity chef with an arrogant attitude on his cooking shows, often belittling contestants and showing superiority.
2. Kanye West is a rapper who gained a reputation for making big claims about his talents, skills, and impact on the music industry, often portraying himself as a genius.
3. Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter series embodies arrogance, consistently looks down upon others, and boasts about his pure-blood heritage.

Do note that some arrogant leaders can feel confident in specific abilities to achieve a certain task. However, they often overly rely on those qualities to mask self-doubt in other areas.

The pitfalls of arrogance

So far, arrogance may not strike you as the best trait to possess, specifically in social settings. 

But what are the effects for the arrogant individual?

1. Limited empathy: Arrogance is often accompanied by a lack of empathy for others, which affects your interactions.
2. Shallow relationships: A lack of empathy and respect ruins trust, which forms the foundation for deep and meaningful connections.
3. Growth stagnation: Arrogant people know all the answers and are less open to new perspectives and experiences.
4. Missed opportunities: A lack of growth and deep relationships means you’ll miss out on beneficial partnerships and other advancement opportunities.
5. Lack of self-awareness: Arrogance limits self-reflection, blocking you from becoming self-aware of your weaknesses, self-doubts, actions, and behaviors.
6. Toxic work environment: If you’re an arrogant person, you can have a significant impact on the morale of your co-workers. And it can reduce the creativity and productivity of everyone.
7. Ineffective leadership: Arrogant leaders prioritize their own needs over the well-being of their team. If that sounds like you, don’t be surprised if your entire team performs below average.
8. Emotional isolation: Arrogance is often a protection mechanism against vulnerability and masks deep-rooted insecurities. But it also leads to isolation, preventing you from forming genuine connections to overcome self-doubt.

Many drawbacks of arrogance hinder the depth of your relationships, personal growth, success, and even personal fulfillment. 

So then, why are people arrogant?

Arrogance is often a psychological defense mechanism that stems from deep-rooted insecurities. Here are some common factors that contribute to arrogance:

• Low self-esteem, insecurity, and inadequacy can ignite the need for overcompensation in other areas, projecting a sense of self-importance and superiority.
• Fear of vulnerability can lead to arrogant behavior in an attempt to shield yourself from potential criticism or rejection.
• The need for control is a defense mechanism to establish dominance and avoid feelings of powerlessness.
• Lack of self-awareness or the inability to self-reflect can lead to struggles with your weaknesses and flaws, leading to a distorted self-perception.
• The need for external validation can lead to arrogant behavior in an attempt to gain attention.
• Learned behavior. Your upbringing, societal norms, and natural environments can lead to adopting an arrogant attitude.
• Cognitive biases, such as the Dunning-Kruger effect, can lead to arrogance. It’s often those with a limited amount of knowledge and skills that overestimate their own abilities.
• Excessive success and achievements in certain areas of life can foster entitlement and arrogance. Even “borrowed” success from a parent can lead to an exaggerated sense of self-importance.

Notice that arrogance is often a defensive mechanism to protect oneself. And arrogant people often struggle to realize just how much this attitude harms themselves and others.

Shifting your perspective on arrogance

With this new understanding of why arrogant people behave the way they do, it’s worth considering our scripts like:

“Arrogant people are the worst! They always act like they’re better than everyone else and make others feel small.”

And, based on this new information, to shift our perspective and attitude to attack the shell of arrogance with empathy and love.

“Even though arrogant people can be challenging, they might be struggling with their own insecurities and shortcomings.”

Of course, there’s no need to defend arrogance.

But it’s worth considering a compassionate perspective for your own well-being and interpersonal effectiveness.

The difference between confidence and arrogance

You may now have a general idea of the fine line between confidence vs arrogance. But let’s dive deeper into the 6 critical differences between confidence and arrogance:

1. Self-belief vs Inflated ego
2. Openness to learning vs Know-it-all attitude
3. Humility vs Entitlement
4. Self-assurance vs Need for validation
5. Collaboration vs Dominance
6. Emotional intelligence vs Lack of empathy

#1: Self-belief vs Inflated Ego

True confidence comes from a genuine belief in your abilities, skills, and self-worth, grounded in self-awareness.

Arrogance, on the other hand, is an exaggerated sense of self-belief driven by the ego and a constant need to prove themselves to others.

#2: Openness to learning vs Know-it-all attitude

Confident people are eager to learn and have a growth mindset. You welcome feedback and constructive criticism, embrace new challenges, seek knowledge, and invite different perspectives. 

Arrogant individuals have a know-it-all attitude and believe they’ve nothing more to learn. They feel superior and have a fixed mindset, making them resistant to new ideas and perspectives.

#3: Humility vs Entitlement

Confident people maintain humility. You recognize and acknowledge your weaknesses, shortcomings, and mistakes. And you understand the factor of luck in success without disregarding your own efforts. 

Arrogance comes with a sense of entitlement and perfection, which means weaknesses are unacceptable. And while they claim full credit for their successes, someone else is always to blame for their failures.

#4: Self-assurance vs Need for validation

A confident person enjoys healthy levels of self-assurance that come from within, not from external validation. It means you trust your abilities and make decisions based on your judgment.

Arrogant people tend to seek constant validation and admiration from others to boost their ego. External sources, like status and material gain, are their primary measurements for self-worth.

#5: Collaboration vs Dominance

Confident individuals are comfortable collaborating and working with others. You know your weaknesses and value the strengths of others, leading to a better understanding of the value of teamwork. And you provide encouragement to those around you.

Arrogant individuals tend to dominate conversations and interactions, often dismissing or devaluing the contributions of others. They also feel threatened by the success of others.

#6: Emotional intelligence vs Lack of empathy

Confident people tend to possess more emotional intelligence and empathy than most people. It means you understand and consider the feelings of others, which provides broader self-awareness and helps you build healthy relationships.

Arrogant people disregard the feelings, emotions, and perspectives of others. They often appear insensitive or dismissive of others’ needs or concerns.

Similarities between arrogance and confidence

Some differences between confidence and arrogance are also similarities on the surface, making them hard to separate. That said, there are underlying differences in these superficial similarities:

1. Self-assurance: Confident and arrogant individuals strongly believe in their abilities and qualities in specific contexts.
2. Conviction: Both types express themselves with confidence and may appear assertive and outspoken.
3. Outward expression: Both types can show a dominant posture, such as assertive body language, strong communication, and the ability to command attention.
4. Perceived strength: Arrogant and confident people tend to portray themselves confidently, which others can view as a strength.

Although there’s a fine line, do note the underlying key difference between confidence and arrogance:

• Confidence is rooted in self-awareness, humility, respect for others, and an openness to learn and grow.
• Arrogance stems from insecurity, a lack of self-awareness, and an inflated sense of self-importance. It involves a sense of entitlement and a disregard for opposing or different perspectives.

Recognizing the differences between confidence and arrogance will help you navigate social situations. And it also benefits your journey to build confidence while avoiding arrogance.

How to be less arrogant – or avoid it altogether?

You might wonder how to develop confidence without being seen as arrogant or adopting such traits. Here are the key points to consider to gain confidence and reduce arrogance:

1. Cultivate self-awareness to understand your strengths, weaknesses, emotions, behavior, and more. Practice self-reflection and ask others for feedback.
2. Embrace humility by acknowledging that there’s always more to learn – and that you can learn something from everyone. Explore different ideas and read various books, especially with opposing viewpoints and new perspectives.
3. Acknowledge your mistakes. Avoid blaming others and complaining about situations. Instead, take responsibility, be willing to be wrong, and seek growth over judgment. What could you’ve done differently? And what can you take away from the situation?
4. Show genuine respect and empathy towards others. Actively listen to others, try to understand where they’re coming from, and value their opinions – especially when you disagree. And always avoid the need to belittle or judge others.
5. Value continuous learning and seek opportunities to expand your knowledge and skills. Ask for constructive feedback. And keep in mind that you can always learn something from everyone.
6. Collaborate with supportive people who can cover your weaker areas. Foster a team-oriented mindset and celebrate all successes collectively.
7. Express gratitude for the contributions of others, regardless of success or failure. Share praise lavishly. And acknowledge the mentorship you receive along the way.

Keep in mind that confidence and arrogance come on a scale. And you may swing from confidence to a bit of arrogance and back.

Now, one arrogant action doesn’t make you arrogant.

So avoid judging yourself harshly when you do. 

Instead, overcome arrogance by acknowledging your mistake and seeking continuous self-improvement and self-awareness. 

That’s the path to a more confident and less arrogant you.

What’s next?

Understanding the key differences between confidence and arrogance is essential for personal growth and effective relationships. 

Here are some final thoughts and key points we discussed:

• Confident people have self-awareness, emotional intelligence, humility, respect for others, and an openness to learning.
• Arrogant people have an inflated ego, a know-it-all attitude, a lack of empathy, and a need for validation.
• Arrogance hinders personal growth, career development, and trust, resulting in fewer opportunities and shallow relationships.
• Developing confidence leads to more opportunities, well-being, influence, better relationships, and overall life satisfaction.

Finally, check out the best self-esteem and confidence courses and the following resources:

• Best books to upgrade your emotional intelligence
• Course: Developing Emotional Intelligence on Udemy
• Best journals with prompts for self-reflection

Finally, sign up for the weekly newsletter for more personal growth tips and strategies to live a more authentic and fulfilling life.