Why do some people exaggerate their accomplishments and successes? There are two different theories regarding this behavior.
First, some people may exaggerate their accomplishments consciously or unconsciously to mask their low self-esteem.
Second, some people may genuinely believe in their own superiority without supporting evidence, which can result in arrogant behavior that others dislike.
In either case, the following questions may help identify this undesirable behavior in yourself or others, as long as you answer them honestly.
Please note that the test below is provided for educational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice or a diagnostic tool.
I compare myself to others and compliment myself at their expense.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I secretly believe that I am superior to the people in my social circle.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I feel that some rules and social norms do not apply to me.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I think I am more qualified and capable than my colleagues.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I often can’t see other people’s perspectives, nor do I make any effort to do so.
Often
Sometimes
Never
Whether at school or at work, I am always the favorite.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I feel like I must win whenever I compete.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I don’t know how to apologize when I am wrong or when I hurt someone.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I think I am more talented than most people I know.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I enjoy bragging about my accomplishments.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I believe that my social status is higher than that of the majority of people I am familiar with.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I think I am more successful than most people I know.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I tend to dominate conversations.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I struggle to accept even constructive criticism.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I feel like I should have the final say in most conversations or debates.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I have a high opinion of myself and think that I am admirable.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I have difficulty feeling empathy for other people in my social circle and often believe that their misfortunes result from their own mistakes.
Often
Sometimes
Never
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I tend to insist that I am right, even when there is evidence to the contrary.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I believe that I am more worthy of praise and recognition than other people in my social circle.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I am bothered when friends, colleagues, or family try to give me advice.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I downplay the importance of my colleagues’ accomplishments.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I tend to look down on others.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I believe I am more educated than most people in my social circle.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I easily dismiss other people’s opinions and ideas.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I tend to assume that I am entitled to special treatment due to my background, good looks, social status, intelligence, or abilities.
Often
Sometimes
Never
It is difficult for me to admit when I am wrong.
Often
Sometimes
Never
Frankly speaking, I enjoy criticizing others because it makes me feel better about myself.
Often
Sometimes
Never
I think I am ahead of others in many different areas.
Often
Sometimes
Never
Your result will appear here.
A superiority complex refers to an inflated sense of superiority or self-importance. As with most other psychological concepts, it is a personality trait that can manifest in various degrees, from mild to severe.
Now let’s take a look at your score!
28 OR UNDER
You have a healthy sense of self-worth and do not feel the need to put others down to feel better about yourself. You are confident in your skills and abilities, but you also appreciate and recognize the accomplishments and contributions of others. You enjoy sharing and discussing ideas with others and are open to receiving constructive criticism.
29-59
Your score suggests that you may have a slightly inflated sense of self-importance, but you generally do not exhibit arrogant behavior. You may secretly feel that you are better than others in some areas or even most areas, but you keep yourself in check and, for the most part, display only likable behavior. This tendency may actually propel you forward in life without affecting your relationships negatively. However, for your own sake, it’s important to ensure you don’t engage in toxic comparisons or unhealthy competition. A healthy balance of confidence and humility is the way to go.
It’s important to mention that some of the very confident and genuinely skillful individuals may score here. These individuals may feel more capable and more talented than many other people, but the difference is that they have evidence to back it up.
60-84
People who score in this range may exhibit arrogant and grandiose behavior. They may push others away by treating them as inferiors and may not realize their own flaws and limitations.
One might think that believing in one’s own greatness feels good, but this is not necessarily the case. If you use this behavior to hide your low self-esteem, you may end up feeling even worse due to fear of being exposed.
If you behave this way because you are naturally overly confident, you may put yourself in difficult situations by overestimating your abilities, or you may decide that you don’t need to work or study as hard, potentially missing out on opportunities due to being unprepared.
In either case, a superiority complex can be very damaging to personal and professional relationships.