Throughout human history, the world has always been filled with ambitious individuals who have caused tremendous damage. From Pharaohs to Adolf Hitler. From Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, to Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong. They had a tendency to feel superior to others, even feeling that they were God, or at least chosen by God to represent Him on Earth.
This superior, elevated nature encourages a person to exploit others, because they are considered objects rather than equals. This is a human trait now known as megalomania or delusions of grandeur. Psychologically , this delusion of grandeur is not normal, because it is a symptom of a mental disorder that needs to be watched out for.
This disorder, also known asgrandiose delusion, can cause a person to focus their attention on themselves. Some healthy people may indeed have an overly high opinion of themselves, but unlike normal people, a megalomaniac is unshakably convinced that their delusions are true. They may even influence others to follow their point of view and make them their leader.
There are many causes of personality disorders, which are mental health disorders. They can be triggered by bipolar disorder due to depression. Or, someone who has schizophrenia may also suffer from a personality disorder, as may someone who has suffered a severe blow to the head, causing trauma or brain injury.
For the record, megalomania is not an official diagnosis in modern psychiatry, but rather a popular term used to describe extreme behavior. Even so, we know that people with this trait can indeed be found in everyday life, where their behavior is indeed different, special in a negative sense.
When viewed from a philosophical perspective, this behavior stems from his alienation from the meaning of life, driving him to seek a false identity.
Delusions of grandeur can also be seen as a radical attempt to assert oneself amid the absurdity of life. Similar to German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's idea of the will to power, megalomania expresses the human urge to transcend limitations, albeit in a pathological way.
It is therefore not surprising that people with delusions of grandeur can feel that their lives are more meaningful because their fantasies of greatness give them structure and purpose. Thus, delusions of grandeur are not only seen as a disorder, but also as an existential narrative that serves the individual and their followers.
So, is delusions of grandeur only suffered by great leaders, but not ordinary people?
Megalomania is often associated with historical figures or rulers who demand personal cults, monumental projects, or absolute power. However, in psychology, delusions of grandeur can arise in anyone, regardless of social or political position.
Even people in minor positions can exhibit megalomaniacal behavior within a limited scope. For example, within the family, small communities, or local organizations. In for-profit organizations, it is also possible to encounter megalomaniacal employees who have mental disorders.
They believe that having extraordinary power, intelligence, or status is unrealistic, act very arrogantly, selfishly, look down on others, do not accept criticism, and are difficult to manage because they feel they are always right and important, often causing conflicts and work relationship problems.
When dealing with megalomania in a limited organizational environment, it is no longer a matter of changing them to be normal. Rather, there needs to be a strategy for managing interactions so as not to damage the team. The key is clear boundaries, professional communication, collective support, and a focus on organizational goals.
On the other hand, medically, megalomania can be treated through psychological and pharmacological therapy. Meanwhile, in a philosophical approach, to reduce delusions of grandeur, critical reflection is needed in training self-awareness, distinguishing between reality and fantasy.
Delusions of grandeur, on the one hand, sometimes produce enduring cultural products. Because of their ego, megalomaniacs will try to build massive symbols to show their existence in the world, even if possible into the afterlife.
However, sometimes this comes at a high price in terms of damage to other parties. Human history also shows that global imbalance caused by the ambitions of a megalomaniac can destroy and annihilate each other.
