People often mistake arrogance for confidence and/or self-esteem. Both have some similar signs and behaviors, but they are actually two opposite conditions.
Arrogant people are often very good at covering their real feelings and fears; they seem to be prepared to face the world, know what they want and how to get it, just like confident people. Often we perceive them as over-confident, narcissistic people that love themselves too much.
However, this is only an illusion they build to hide their low self-esteem. Confidence/healthy self-esteem and arrogance/narcissism are contradictory.
To understand what lies beneath each of both conditions, we should get deeper into their psychological state to see their roots and motives.
The main thing that differentiate arrogance from confidence is their attitude toward others.
Confident people have a healthy self-esteem, so they love and accept themselves the way they are, when arrogant people suffer to find their happiness and importance.
Arrogant people behave the imperious and know-it-all way to hide their insecurity and low self-esteem. This is just one of masks they use to look more confident and feel important and valuable. By degrading others (usually their family members), they get a false, temporary sense of personal willpower and importance. They constantly compare themselves to others and envy them. Because of their low self-esteem they can’t accept their own accomplishments and seek reassurance and attention from others. We can say same things about “control freaks”, bullies, and some other DIFFICULT PEOPLE.
Confident people don’t have any motives to act superior, show off, boss others around, or control them. They are already positive and happy with themselves and life overall. They don’t compare their life to someone else’s, and don’t compete. This is why they are open to help others. Instead of pushing people down, they try to lift them up. If you are happy and positive, why would you want to hurt anyone?..
If the arrogant person’s behavior says I am better than you and I am the one in control, the confident person would say I am happy with who I am and we are equal.
Read more about WHY SELF-ESTEEM IS SO IMPORTANT in my post LOVE AND ACCEPT YOURSELF.