Have you ever met someone who is arrogant, who thinks he is the most important person of this century, with a self-esteem that seems like a balloon because of how wide and high he is and who claims that he has never made a single mistake? Eccentric, self-absorbed, arrogant and, above all, irritating. That’s what megalomaniacs are like. But what exactly is megalomania? Is it simply an adjective to describe a person with excess self-esteem or is there something more? In this Psychology-Online article, megalomania: meaning and symptoms The nature of the people who present these characteristics will be investigated.
Megalomania: meaning
What is megalomania? How exactly could megalomania be defined?
Megalomania: etymology
The word megalomania comes from the Greek megalo (great) and mania (dementia, frenzy).
Megalomania: definition
The term megalomania is used to describe the tendency to overestimate one’s own abilities of a person and the importance of oneself in relation to others.
Megalomania: DSM 5
The use of the word megalomania was previously used as a term to describe a psychological disorder, but was later replaced by . Today, the concept of megalomania is used more loosely to describe the personality of an arrogant person or as one of the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder if it is accompanied by delusions of grandeur. This is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5), as part of the symptomatology of narcissistic personality disorder.
What is megalomaniac
What is it to be a megalomaniac? Megalomaniac or megalomaniac is an adjective that refers to a person who has megalomania. A megalomaniac person has the following characteristics:
- A megalomaniac person he thinks he is a superior being and therefore, more important than the others.
- tends to show extremely proud of their own abilities, wealth and social status, showing arrogance and contempt towards anyone or anything that has nothing to do with itself and overvalues its influence on third parties disproportionately.
- Despite this high self-esteem present in a megalomaniac, his self-perception does not necessarily correspond to reality.
Megalomania: symptoms
Given that megalomania is a concept that has changed over time, it is difficult to determine to what extent certain behaviors can be attributed to megalomania itself. Now, from a clinical point of view, pathological megalomania (included in narcissistic personality disorder) has more common characteristics, including the following:
1. Delusions of grandeur
They present delusions of grandeur, a set of irrational beliefs that make them think of themselves as a great and perfect being.
- Glorious identity. They are considered famous and important and everyone should revere them.
- They exaggerate their capabilities. They attribute abilities that they do not have or with more skill than real ones.
- They think they are perfect. Any mistake or failure is the fault of others and therefore they do not learn from their mistakes and experiences.
- Everything is possible. In the mind of a megalomaniac, any activity or challenge is easy for them, and can lead to dangerous situations in risky activities.
2. Delusions of reference
Delusions of reference are a set of thoughts that make a person believe that everything that happens in the world has a hidden meaning for them. More specifically, people with megalomania think that everything that happens revolves around them and refers to them. In the following article you will find more information about .
3. They seem to lie
Their features are so exaggerated that they seem to be faking it.
4. Social problems
They may be left alone due to rejection from their social circles or due to voluntary isolation because they consider others unworthy of their presence.
In the following article you will find more.
Famous megalomaniacs
The megalomania makes itself seen, now in a big way. A megalomaniac is not content with a humble or small-time life, but with a life of luxury and social status, a way of life flaunted by vanity and power. Therefore, as might be expected, a person who demands power and fame as his or her right, or who believes that his or her role in this world is of vital importance, will easily not go unnoticed in the annals of history.
There have been great historical figures who have felt the right and duty to safeguard the world and conquer it. Much of emperors and dictators They could fall into the description of a megalomaniac. For example, some famous megalomaniacs are:
- Hitler. Known for believing in a superior race and that it had to dominate the world, committing barbaric acts to cleanse it of all people considered inferior.
- Driving away the Great. If his title doesn’t seem indicative enough, he changed the name of conquered cities to his own name.
- Stalin. He instilled a cult of his person, teaching, for example, Soviet children in schools to memorize texts that spoke of Stalin’s bravery and intelligence. In any group painting his name appeared first and in capital letters, regardless of where he was located.
- Mao Zedong. His image was distributed throughout homes, offices and schools. All members of his party were obliged to keep a book where Mao’s quotes and sayings were compiled.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Megalomania: meaning and symptomswe recommend that you enter our category.
Bibliography
- American Psychiatric Association. (2014). DSM-5. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Madrid: Editorial Médica Panamericana, SA
- Aguirre, P.A. (2014). World history of megalomania: Excessities, ravings and fantasies of the cult of personality in politics. Debate.
- Akhtar, S., & Thomson, J. A. (1982). Overview: Narcissistic personality disorder. The American journal of psychiatry.