Self-Defense Sabotage: Pride, Arrogance, Ego, and Taking Things Personally

How Pride, Arrogance, Ego, and Taking Things Personally Make You Not Able to Handle Conflict

Pride, arrogance, ego, and taking things personally can all be major roadblocks to handling conflict effectively. When we’re feeling these emotions, we’re more likely to become defensive, aggressive, or even shut down altogether. This can make it difficult to communicate effectively and resolve the conflict in a healthy way.

• Pride: When we’re feeling proud, we may be unwilling to admit that we’re wrong or that someone else has a point. We may also be more likely to see conflict as a personal attack, rather than an opportunity to resolve a disagreement.
• Arrogance: Arrogance is similar to pride, but it’s often more extreme. When we’re arrogant, we may believe that we’re always right and that everyone else is wrong. This can make it difficult to listen to other people’s perspectives or to consider the possibility that we could be wrong.
• Ego: Ego is the sense of self-importance that we all have to some degree. However, when our ego is too big, it can get in the way of our ability to handle conflict effectively. We may become more focused on winning the argument than on resolving the conflict.
• Taking things personally: When we take things personally, we see conflict as a reflection of our own worth or value. This can make us feel attacked and defensive, which can make it difficult to have a productive conversation.

If you find yourself struggling to handle conflict effectively, it’s important to be aware of the role that pride, arrogance, ego, and taking things personally may be playing. Once you’re aware of these emotions, you can start to develop strategies for managing them in a healthier way.

Consequently, these traits in a person confronting you can be used against them, if you can keep yourself calm and in check.

Conflict is a normal part of life. It can happen in our personal relationships, our professional lives, and even in our communities. While conflict can be unpleasant, it is important to be able to handle it effectively.

One of the biggest challenges in handling conflict is our own ego. When we are prideful, arrogant, or take things personally, it can be difficult to see the other person’s perspective or to compromise. We may become defensive, aggressive, or even resort to name-calling. This can only make the conflict worse.

Here are some of the ways in which pride, arrogance, ego, and taking things personally can make you or your adversary not be able to handle conflict:

• You become defensive. When you are feeling attacked, your natural instinct is to defend yourself. This can lead to you becoming defensive in a conflict, even if the other person is not attacking you. You may start to make excuses, deny responsibility, or even become aggressive.
• You become aggressive. If you are feeling threatened or insecure, you may become aggressive in a conflict. You may start to raise your voice, use insults, or even threaten the other person. This can only make the conflict worse and make it more difficult to resolve.
• You become closed-minded. When you are prideful or arrogant, you may be unwilling to listen to the other person’s perspective. You may think that you are always right and that the other person is always wrong. This can make it difficult to find a solution that works for both of you.
• You take things personally. If you are sensitive or take things personally, you may be more likely to see conflict as a personal attack. This can make it difficult to stay calm and objective. You may start to feel hurt, angry, or even offended. This can make it difficult to have a productive conversation.

If you want to be able to handle conflict effectively, it is important to be aware of your own ego and how it can affect your behavior. When you are feeling prideful, arrogant, or taking things personally, take a step back and try to calm down. Remember that the other person is not attacking you personally. They are simply trying to communicate their needs and wants. Once you have calmed down, you can try to have a productive conversation and find a solution that works for both of you.

Here are a few tips for handling conflict effectively:

• Take a step back: When you feel yourself getting emotional, take a few deep breaths and try to calm down. This will help you think more clearly and respond more rationally.
• Listen to the other person: Really listen to what the other person is saying, even if you don’t agree with them. Try to understand their perspective and why they feel the way they do.
• Be respectful: Even if you’re angry or upset, it’s important to be respectful of the other person. Avoid name-calling, insults, or other personal attacks.
• Focus on the issue: Try to keep the focus on the issue at hand, rather than on personalities or individual attacks.
• Be willing to compromise: In most cases, there’s no need for one person to win and the other person to lose. Be willing to compromise and find a solution that works for everyone involved.
• Fight back as a last resort: If push comes to shove, be willing and able to fight back as hard as necessary to eliminate the threat and get away safely.

Handling conflict effectively takes practice and patience. But if you can learn to manage your emotions and focus on the issue at hand, you’ll be well on your way to resolving conflict in a healthy and productive way. Remember these considerations work against you if you are suffering from their adverse effects, but can be helpful to you if your opponent is expressing these signs. Act accordingly.

As always, be safe and be prepared.

See Also:

• Science of Fear and How to Overcome it in Dangerous Situations
• Fight Back! Like Your Life Depends on It!
• You are Your Own First Responder
• Be Aware of Your Surroundings
• Pepper Spray Not Recommended? Are You Serious?