In the modern world of psychology, a pattern is observed where the drive to create an illusion of exceptionality gradually turns into pathological self-confidence.

From Snobbery to Grandiosity: The Illusion of Exalted Self-Importance

In the modern world of psychology, a pattern is observed where the drive to create an illusion of exceptionality gradually turns into pathological self-confidence. It all begins with manifestations of snobbery, when a person strives to demonstrate their refinement and unique status by creating an aura of subjective "spiritual brightness" around themselves. This kind of behavior is aimed at artificially exaggerating one’s virtues, where the external appearance becomes more important than true substance.

On this path of overestimating one’s significance, the increase in self-confidence and the disregard for one’s own flaws can lead a person to an even more serious condition – the mania of grandeur. In this phase, an individual loses the ability to objectively assess their mistakes, while their abilities and achievements begin to be perceived in a distorted light, generating a dangerous sense of infallibility.

In summary, it can be said that the tendency toward snobbery often becomes a harbinger of deeper anomalies in self-perception. The desire to appear superior to others can escalate into a state where every personality trait is exaggerated to the level of grandeur. This phenomenon not only distorts one’s true understanding of oneself but can also negatively affect interpersonal relationships and the professional sphere, emphasizing the need for critical self-assessment.

How can the manifestation of snobbery be linked to instilling a mania of grandeur in people?

The manifestation of snobbery and the mania of grandeur are closely connected through one common mechanism – an exaggerated sense of self-importance, where external behavior intended to demonstrate exceptionality gradually morphs into pathological self-confidence.

Thus, snobbery represents the creation of a “spiritual appearance of existence,” in which a person attempts to produce the impression of exceptionality and superficial refinement. As stated in one source, "A snob is a spiritual appearance of existence. And the atmosphere he creates around himself is snobbery – vain and harmful. Then it is very important to find gifted people, extract from them all that is best in confidence, and later present it under one’s own name. The exploited individual can later be fired due to downsizing or removed in some other way" (source: link txt).

This type of behavior is aimed at demonstrating a "privileged" status, which is partly based on exaggerating one’s own virtues. This directly correlates with the development of the mania of grandeur: "A person stops seeing their sins, fails to notice their shortcomings, begins to diminish their guilt or even denies it altogether, and sometimes even attributes it to others. They start to exaggerate and overvalue their knowledge, experience, abilities, and virtues. As the condition progresses, in their own opinion, they grow into someone great, worthy of glory. That is why the condition is called: mania of grandeur" (source: link txt).

In other words, a tendency toward snobbery contributes to the formation of inflated self-conceptions: a person who constantly strives to appear superior to others, by delving deeper into their arrogance, may transition into a state where every quality is exaggerated to the level of grandeur. Thus, snobbery becomes not just an external mannerism but a factor that can drive a person to ignore their shortcomings and rely solely on their high opinion of themselves, ultimately leading to a mania of grandeur.