Originally Posted by
coffeedrinker 
I suspect sometimes conceit and self-righteousness arises from an underlying insecurity.
I can't imagine an instance where this is NOT the case. A self-righteous attitude is by definition used to elevate the "status" of one person above the other via moral "superiority." People who do this do it because they feel the need to puff themselves up - because they feel too small or insignificant, or poorly heard, or without the control they wish they had over a situation, or because to change their perspective from their entrenched dogma is too frightening to them.
Now, when I run across these types, I can respect them as fellow humans, respect that they have their own opinion, but allow myself to distance or remove myself from them, and allow myself not to engage with them, as usually it's futile.
CLMI