The illusion of knowing it all

Have you ever met someone who has to be right all the time? The kind of person who says "I'm not an expert or anything" or "I don't claim knowing everything", and then directly adds a "but", as if that small disclaimer gives them the full right to reject opinions that do not align with their own? No matter how much evidence is being presented to them or even when they are aware that they could be wrong, they still insist on being right and refuse to change their mind.

I've done some research and according to what I've read, this behavior is usually linked to cognitive dissonance. A term used to describe the discomfort that people feel when they are faced with information that contradicts their beliefs. Some people would constantly adjust their argument, cherry-pick facts and twist logic to maintain their sense of truth and avoid the unpleasant feeling of being wrong. 

It could also be tied to ego protection, as some people, especially those whose feeling of worth depends on their intelligence or expertise, may believe that admitting fault is a personal failure and would rather control the conversation than appear uninformed. This can be a sort of gaslighting, not necessarily in a malicious way, but in a way that subtly alters your reality by making you question what you know to be true.

Some people's insecurity is the core cause of this behavior. If a person has been conditioned to associate "being wrong" with "being weak," they will do all in their power to seem as though they know it all. Others may just be addicted to the ability to influence others and enjoy the control that they have over a conversation.

For me, these interactions seem very frustrating because they are about winning, rather than finding the truth. The goal of these conversations should be learning, not just proving a point.

When someone rejects the possibility that they could be wrong about something, they're not only stalling personal growth, but they're also shutting down meaning discussions. 

So to best handle these people, you must avoid falling into the trap of proving them wrong because it'll only drain your energy. They're all about maintaining their perceived superiority and they don't care about the truth. And if you happen to ask them questions that challenge them to reflect on their logic and they still refuse to engage in an open conversation, just walk away and let them live in their illusion.