Why don't some people understand the difference between confidence and arrogance?

Question

What's wrong with being confident?

aWes0MeNeSs · Accepted Answer

I think it's easy for people to think in black and white and go from one end of the spectrum completely to the other.

Also, insecure people tend to resent confident people and say or do anything to put them down, which could include labeling them as arrogant just for being openly happy with themselves (and there's a HUGE difference between loving who you are and not being afraid to admit it, and thinking you're better than everyone else/constantly bragging about yourself, which can actually be overcompensation for a lack of confidence).

I have to admit that I thought too black and white about this when I was younger and was afraid to ever give myself any credit or say anything positive about myself in fear that I would appear full of myself or narcissistic. That is not healthy at all, either. Now, I can say that I'm happy with the person I am and am every bit as good as anyone else, and even if someone disagrees or accuses me of being arrogant (very rare, and only very unhappy, bitter people have done it), I just brush it off. There will always be people who will think poorly of you, but why give them any power over you? That was a lesson I learned way too late in my life.

As far as arrogant people who think acting like they're superior to everyone else and can't stop bragging about how much better they are claiming "confidence", again, that is usually actually overcompensation for a lack of confidence. Some people will try to put on a show in order to convince others (but mostly themselves) they're something they're not, and they will take it way too far.

Desconhecida · Accepted Answer

Confidence is not giving a shit if people find you arrogant.

MrOracle · Accepted Answer

When the person in question is legitimately confident rather than arrogant, the obvious reason for the confusion between the two is jealousy. That person may be jealous of the other person's looks or status or power or possessions, OR they may be jealous of the confidence itself.

Having said that, there are also people who ARE arrogant, and who believe they are just confident (or believe they are portraying confidence), so sometimes this "misunderstanding" is legitimate. I had a friend who had zero self esteem after a breakup, and whenever he tried to project confidence, he just came across as an arrogant asshole.

The difference between the two seems to be that a confident person isn't particularly concerned with how others perceive them or whether or not they're successful, while an arrogant person is especially concerned with how others perceive them or their success. Someone who is legitimately confident usually inspires people to want to be around them or follow their lead, while arrogance normally drives people away.

Makeushiver · Accepted Answer

Nothing is wrong with confidence. True humility isn't necessarily yourself either less than or more than; it's closer to simply not thinking about it and when you do realizing that many gifts that you may have such as beauty, intelligence are not the result of anything special you may have done as much as arbitrary gifts that you are lucky to have. If a pic in one of your recent posts is a selfie, then you are definitely the recipient of some remarkable gifts as it was beautiful.

Porcelaine · Answer

Omg. I've been arguing with one guy here for the last week about this :D he insists arrogance is attractive, but the way he describes it, it's more confidence than arrogance

samiammm · Answer

Sometimes we portray our confidence in such a way that it seems like arrogance or disrespectful act.

At times when I have an argument, I last out at the other person.
At that time, despite being right, I become wrong in everyone's eyes.

There's a way of doing things.

Also in your country, in India, confidence is often confused with disrespect.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

The two words describe points on a continuum and the distinction is lost on many who are not careful with their language. I absolutely love a confident female, especially if she is confident in her sexuality. And that self-confidence does NOT require a 9/10 body!

matchrestore · Answer

Confidence doesn't have to brag or show off, arrogance does.

blank_expression · Answer

I am not sure if your question is directed at the one spewing it out or the one eating it. If the sender can discern the difference between arrogance and confidence then it shouldn’t be an issue.

Jjpayne · Answer

How does someone gain confidence, if they lack confidence?

1CentWorth · Answer

To be fair, what's actually wrong with being arrogant?

BeenThereLovedIt · Answer

Arrogance is what happens when peers don't buy into a persons fake confidence.

Avicenna · Answer

Confidence is great. It makes a woman much more attractive, and presumably a guy being confident has the same effect.

Jealous and insecure people are most likely to confuse confidence for arrogance, which is looking down on others.

Bhavin2184 · Answer

There is thin line between confident people and arrogant people  So some time people misjudge the confident person as arrogant.

0112358 · Answer

I'd agree people are bad at telling confidence from arrogance. Very low self esteem guys tend to view everything as arrogance. On the other hand, I've seen many women mistake what's pretty obvious arrogance for confidence. Sometimes it's not even arrogance backed by confidence, but actually insecurity.

Alexandrubaschet08 · Answer

Is nothing whrong to be confident, it meen you know what you can do and you are concient about it, so you will make evrething that it need to show your best.
Arogant it meen to think, pretend, say that you are much more then you are.

AndrewMG · Answer

Confidence is appreciating the qualities you have. Arrogance is exaggerating the importance of the qualities you have. Simple difference!

winterfox10 · Answer

They look really similar

worldscolide · Answer

Nothing wrong with confidence.. arrogance though is ugly..

ButtaGrey · Answer

I would think that depends upon how one is being perecieved and how one is portraying  themselves in front of others.

1828avaava1828 · Answer

They hate us cause they ain’t us lol

loveslongnails · Answer

I find that confident people often underrate their abilities but perform well, while arrogant people overrate their abilities and often don't perform well, yet blame their failure on anything but themselves. Sound familiar?

AmeerX · Answer

You really are one attractive girl. Your posts are pretty relevant.
Arrogance is more on the ruder side and an arrogant person makes mistakes.

Being confident is about being sure of yourself and your capabilities.

GreatnessBack · Answer

Lack of experience.

Why don't some people understand the difference between confidence and arrogance?

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