Self-righteousness, also called sanctimoniousness, sententiousness and holier-than-thou attitudes is a feeling or display of (usually smug) moral superiority derived from a sense that one's beliefs, actions, or affiliations are of greater virtue than those of the average person. Self-righteous individuals are often intolerant of the opinions and behaviors of others.
The term "self-righteous" is often considered derogatory (see, for example, journalist and essayist James Fallows' description of self-righteousness in regard to Nobel Peace Prize winners)
See also
- Elitism
- Mississippi Squirrel Revival
- Sanctimommy
- Signalling theory
- Superiority complex
- The Mote and the Beam
- The Pharisee and the Publican
- Virtue signalling
Further reading
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