Exaggeration in psychology refers to the tendency to describe events, feelings, or facts as more extreme or dramatic than they are. It’s a common behavior, and the psychology behind it is rooted in several key motivations and cognitive processes.
In various corners of our planet Earth, people have amusing expressions to describe the art of exaggeration. Especially when it comes to blowing a small thing out of proportion. The British talk about a storm in a teacup, and the Americans mention a tempest in a teapot. The Dutch say, “Van een mug een olifant maken,” turning a mosquito into an elephant. In Turkish, it’s “Pireyi deve yapmak,” making a camel out of a flea. So, exaggeration seems to be a universal thing. But why? Let’s explore the psychology behind exaggeration. More: Fix your codependency if you want to build healthy relationships
Lighter exaggerations, used casually
🔍 1. Emotional expression & amplification
Exaggeration helps people express their emotions more vividly. Saying “I’m starving” instead of “I’m hungry” can convey urgency or intensity.
- Why? People often feel their internal states are more intense than they appear from the outside. Exaggeration bridges that gap.
- Example: “This is the worst day of my life!” might just mean the person is overwhelmed or frustrated.
👀 2. Attention-seeking & social influence
Exaggeration grabs attention. In social situations, it can be a tool to make stories more engaging or persuasive.
- Why? Human brains are wired to notice extremes. Dramatic language is more memorable and emotionally engaging.
- Example: Salespeople or marketers often exaggerate to emphasize value (“Once in a lifetime deal!”).
🧒 3. Developmental and cultural factors
- Children often exaggerate as they learn to communicate and understand emotions. In some cultures, exaggeration is a normal part of storytelling or humor, while in others it may be seen as dishonest.
😰 4. Defense mechanism
Sometimes, exaggeration is used unconsciously to protect one’s ego.
- Example: Someone might say, “Everyone hates me” after one argument to externalize feelings of rejection and avoid confronting deeper insecurities.
🤝5. Empathy elicitation
Exaggerating distress can be a subtle way to gain sympathy or support.
- Example: “I can’t do anything right” might be said not just out of despair, but also to seek comfort or reassurance from others.
Exaggeration that reflects inner emotional struggles or cognitive distortions
🧠 1. Cognitive biases & distortion
People may exaggerate because of cognitive distortions, often unconsciously.
Cognitive distortions are like sneaky thoughts that make people see things not quite how they are.
- Availability heuristic: Events that are easier to recall (often dramatic ones) seem more frequent or important, leading to exaggerated perceptions.
- Magnification: A cognitive distortion where someone blows problems out of proportion (common in anxiety or depression). More: How cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you gain control over thoughts and emotions?
🎭 2. Compensation for inferiority
Sometimes people exaggerate not just to entertain or express emotion, but to cover up feelings of inadequacy or low self-worth. This type of exaggeration serves as a psychological defense. Why?
- When someone feels “not enough” in some area—looks, intelligence, status—they may compensate by exaggerating their strengths or achievements. This helps protect their self-image and gain external validation that they may not feel internally.
- It’s a defense mechanism: exaggeration becomes a shield that hides insecurity. It often arises unconsciously, especially in people who feel unnoticed, unappreciated, or compared to others.
- Example: A person who secretly feels intellectually inferior might constantly boast about how “everyone asks for their advice,” or claim to have “read every important book.”
- ➡️ The exaggeration isn’t just about the facts—it’s about protecting a fragile sense of self-worth. More: How to know if you are being authentic vs. fake?
Ways people exaggerate their importance to mask their insecurities
Physical appearance
People often exaggerate their importance through their physical appearance as a way to project confidence, status, or value—even if they don’t feel it internally. This is a form of impression management and often ties into deeper psychological needs like self-worth, identity, or social acceptance. More: How to deal with a family member with narcissistic personality disorder?
These behaviors often stem from a desire to feel seen, valued, or superior, especially when people feel overlooked, insecure, or inadequate inside.
1. Luxury Branding
Why? Wearing visible luxury logos or high-end fashion items can signal wealth, status, or superiority, especially if done excessively.
Example: Someone wears multiple luxury labels at once, even in casual settings, to appear more successful or high-status.
2. Heavy or glamorous makeup beyond context
Why? Dramatic makeup can serve as a way to stand out, gain attention, or project confidence and control.
Example: Full-glam makeup for everyday errands—not just for aesthetics, but to feel “above” the crowd.
3. Excessive focus on body shape
Why? A hyper-focus on building an ideal physique (muscular, lean, etc.) can be an attempt to appear powerful, disciplined, or attractive.
Example: Someone constantly posts gym selfies or flexes, using appearance to assert dominance or desirability.
4. Surgical enhancements and filters
Why? Cosmetic surgeries, fillers, or extreme photo filters can be used not just to “enhance” looks, but to present a more “important” or idealized self-image.
Example: Drastically changing facial features to resemble celebrities or high-status beauty ideals. More: Authenticity vs betrayal of the self
5. Attention-grabbing style choices
Why? Bold clothing, eccentric styles, or revealing outfits may serve as tools to dominate visual space and assert individuality or confidence.
Example: Wearing flamboyant or provocative outfits in regular settings to ensure all eyes are on them.
6. Constantly curated selfies & social media posing
Why? Selective self-presentation online exaggerates physical importance and “perfect” lifestyle, often to mask insecurity.
Example: Dozens of highly edited selfies with captions that imply admiration or success.
7. Name-dropping stylists, brands, or procedures
Why? Mentioning elite stylists, clinics, or exclusive treatments subtly inflates personal value through appearance-related associations.
Example: “My stylist flew in from Paris” or “I only use medical-grade skincare.”
Status-signaling behavior
This is a status-signaling behavior rooted in impression management. It’s often used by those who fear being seen as ordinary or unimportant. The exaggeration may mask insecurity, imposter syndrome, or a deep need for validation.
- Always rushing, those eager to seem important act like time is their rare commodity. They keep checking the clock, peeking at their phone, and moving quickly to show how busy they are. Or they`ll act like they have a lot on their minds, furrowing their brows and squinting, making it seem too busy to relax.
- When they plan a meeting, they’ll intentionally show up late. They will make you wait and suggest they’re busier and more important than you. More: Carl Gustav Jung and shadow work: Face your dark side
- Using fancy words for everyday stuff is another trick. They make simple things sound extra special. Instead of saying they’re meeting friends for a community event, they’ll call it a “board meeting” to make it sound exclusive.
- Feeling a bit insecure about their smarts, they put on a show of being the smartest in the room. Even if they don’t know much, they act like they do to impress everyone. They might even brush off your ideas, making it seem like they knew it all along.
- On email, they use those “out of office” messages, even when they’re not away. It’s like saying they’re too busy to reply quickly, trying to make you think they’re dealing with tons of important emails.
- On social media, they love to show off. They’ll exaggerate their job titles and skills to make themselves look better. Every post is carefully made to make it seem super important. More: Letting go of envy: How to break free?
