Human Psychology And The Misused Charge Of Arrogance

By Naseer Ahmed, New Age Islam 6 September 2024 Psychology provides explanations for why people might unfairly attack others for being arrogant when they cannot find logical arguments against their statements. This behaviour can often be understood in terms of several psychological phenomena: 1. Cognitive Dissonance: When someone is confronted with an argument they cannot refute logically, it can create discomfort or tension, known as cognitive dissonance. This occurs because their beliefs or attitudes are challenged, and instead of re-evaluating their views, they may attack the person delivering the argument to resolve the discomfort. Labelling the person as arrogant helps reduce the mental tension without addressing the argument's merit. 2. Defensiveness and Ego Threat: An attack on a person's ideas can be perceived as an attack on their identity or self-esteem, even if the critique is purely intellectual. Defensiveness occurs when people feel that their ego is being threatened. In response, they may project negative qualities, like arrogance, onto the person who challenged them, thus protecting their sense of self. 3. Projection: In projection, individuals attribute their thoughts or feelings to others. Someone feeling insecure or inadequate in the face of a strong argument may project their feelings of arrogance or superiority onto the speaker, accusing them of being arrogant when it is, in fact, their internal struggle with the argument. 4. Envy or Inferiority Complex: Sometimes, when people encounter someone who confidently presents ideas, they may feel inferior or envious. Rather than acknowledging their own feelings, they might label the other person as arrogant to diminish that person's perceived superiority. 5. Social Comparison: People often engage in social comparison, which is evaluating oneself in relation to others. Suppose someone feels inferior compared to another person’s knowledge or skill. In that case, they may attack that person’s character (e.g., calling them arrogant) to elevate themselves or restore balance in their self-esteem. 6. Deflection and Ad Hominem: When someone lacks a logical rebuttal, they might resort to ad hominem attacks, which involve criticising the person rather than the argument. By calling someone arrogant, they shift the focus away from the content of the argument and onto the person's character, thereby deflecting attention from the original issue. 7. Status and Power Dynamics: Sometimes, accusations of arrogance stem from power dynamics. When someone feels that another person is dominating the conversation or appearing more knowledgeable, they may label them as arrogant to reassert control or status in the discussion. In these cases, the accusation of arrogance is often a defence mechanism that allows the individual to avoid engaging with the argument directly while protecting their self-esteem or worldview. ----- A frequent contributor to NewAgeIslam.com, Naseer Ahmed is an Engineering graduate from IIT Kanpur and is an independent IT consultant after having served in both the Public and Private sector in responsible positions for over three decades. He has spent years studying Quran in-depth and made seminal contributions to its interpretation. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/human-psychology-charge-arrogance/d/133138 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism