Alcoholics and arrogance (wife, father, person, attractive)
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I've started to notice a theme among the alcoholics that I've crossed paths with in my life: Arrogance. Thinking back, every alcoholic I've known or currently know is incredibly arrogant. They act like they are better than everyone, and they possess this inflated sense of entitlement that is not actually commensurate with their achievements.
This arrogance is coupled with contempt for others, the ability to hone in on other people's weaknesses or insecurities and then break people down with those insecurities - and get immense pleasure from doing so. And the flipside, which is that they constantly see themselves as the victim of everyone, as if the universe revolves around them and only them.
Is arrogance a common personality trait among alcoholics and addicts in general?
I've started to notice a theme among the alcoholics that I've crossed paths with in my life: Arrogance. Thinking back, every alcoholic I've known or currently know is incredibly arrogant. They act like they are better than everyone, and they possess this inflated sense of entitlement that is not actually commensurate with their achievements.
This arrogance is coupled with contempt for others, the ability to hone in on other people's weaknesses or insecurities and then break people down with those insecurities - and get immense pleasure from doing so. And the flipside, which is that they constantly see themselves as the victim of everyone, as if the universe revolves around them and only them.
Is arrogance a common personality trait among alcoholics and addicts in general?
It's a mask for insecurity. Read page 56 of the big book
I unfortunately run into these people on a daily basis, and they are the most entitled, arrogant P.O.S.'s I've ever had the displeasure of coming into contact with.
I unfortunately run into these people on a daily basis, and they are the most entitled, arrogant P.O.S.'s I've ever had the displeasure of coming into contact with.
It must be, as Stymie13 said, a mask for insecurity. But it becomes dangerous when that arrogance and desire to bring harm to others is coupled with high intelligence, which most of the alcoholics I've known have also had. Most of them were honestly brilliant, in one way or another. They just didn't apply themselves.
That high intelligence, paired with a keen ability to read people, can really make them damaging to the people they try to tear down. They know what gets to you, and they go for the jugular.
I unfortunately run into these people on a daily basis, and they are the most entitled, arrogant P.O.S.'s I've ever had the displeasure of coming into contact with.
It must be, as Stymie13 said, a mask for insecurity. But it becomes dangerous when that arrogance and desire to bring harm to others is coupled with high intelligence, which most of the alcoholics I've known have also had. Most of them were honestly brilliant, in one way or another. They just didn't apply themselves.
That high intelligence, paired with a keen ability to read people, can really make them damaging to the people they try to tear down. They know what gets to you, and they go for the jugular.
Right, but there is no convincing an alcoholic to face themselves and the error of their ways. As they would not be an actively-alcohol-abusing-alcoholic if they could face themselves in terms of their own issues....so really they are not that intelligent.
Well, I have known 3 alcoholics in my life- my father, first wife and best friend. The first 2 had no arrogance whatsoever. The last one does when he is drinking. So that's 33% who do and 66% who do not in my acquaintances.
For me...arrogance seems to demonstrate a lack of veritable confidence...in other words, why would you 'act confident' in an unattractive way (i.e. arrogant) if you were actually confident?
A lot of people become alcoholics because they aren't honest with themselves...so....they fake their 'confidence' subconsciously hoping that they can fool others as much as they've fooled themselves...
Right, but there is no convincing an alcoholic to face themselves and the error of their ways. As they would not be an actively-alcohol-abusing-alcoholic if they could face themselves in terms of their own issues....so really they are not that intelligent.
There are different type of "brilliant" though. A person can lack self-awareness and emotional intelligence but still be incredibly book smart, or an expert in a particular field.
Location: Subconscious Syncope, USA (Northeastern US)
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Heck, its easy to be many things when someone is drunk - arrogant, belligerent, rude, super lovey-dovey, ultra-depressed, violent...many things.
Alcohol releases inhibitions. A person can say and do many things they wouldn't even think of saying or doing when in their right mind.
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