Psychology says people who always underestimate others aren't necessarily as secure or confident as they may appear. When a person repeatedly dismisses another person's abilities, knowledge or potential, the behavior can sometimes be connected to the way that person views themselves. Underestimating others can take different forms. A person may dismiss someone's skills at work, question another person's ability to succeed, or assume that another individual cannot perform a task before seeing the result. In some cases, this behavior may be linked to comparison, insecurity or a need to protect one's self-image. This does not mean that every person who underestimates someone else has low self-esteem. Human behavior can have several causes. However, psychology provides theories that can help explain why this pattern can appear repeatedly.
