Word-Of-the-Week #609: Hubris

April 7, 2016 by  

Hubris unyielding arrogance.

Have you ever experienced a person who continually talks about how great they are? Do you know someone that appears to strut around with their chest puffed out as if to say, “Look at me, you should give me something for all I do?” Are you watching all of the election coverage? Anyone come to mind?

I love this word and so I am taking the liberty of rerunning this WOW from 2008. The first time I heard this word was when I lived in Chicago back in the ’80’s. Harold Washington, who was the mayor at that time, used this word often. I hardly ever see it in print; however, I saw it in an extensive article on human nature and genes in the San Diego Union.

Several weeks ago my WOW was pride. As it turns out, pride is one of the seven deadly sins. Surprised me! Researchers have surmised that pride is a universal trait. And one type of pride is described as hubristic. “It is more likely to occur when people attribute their success to something stable about themselves — like their ability –rather than their effort. It’s accompanied by feelings of egotism and arrogance, and people who experience it tend to be disagreeable, aggressive, hostile, narcissistic and prone to shame.”

a arrogance

“Hubristic pride may simply be the cheater’s version, allowing individuals to garner social esteem and reward without actually doing the work.”

This quote made me think of all of the athletes who have been accused of using performance enhancing drugs.

And Wikipedia writes this, “Hubris often indicates a loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one’s own competence, accomplishments or capabilities.”

This week’s focus is on hubris. How would you rate your “sense of pride?” Do you have a tendency to be disagreeable or hostile? Do you take credit for others work? Do you know someone who is arrogant and egotistical most of the time? Are they someone that you like to spend time with?

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