Psychology says people who stopped caring what others think aren’t arrogant or indifferent; they’ve just achieved a level of emotional maturity that comes from finally valuing their own judgment over the opinions of those around them

One of the biggest myths surrounding emotional maturity is that it appears distant. Once an individual no longer worries about how other people feel, it is automatically assumed that he or she has developed an air of detachment and become selfish, stubborn, or arrogant. The reality, according to psychology, is quite different.

Studies in self-differentiation, autonomy, self-compassion, and fear of evaluation have shown time and again that many individuals tend to become increasingly independent of external validation as they cultivate their own sense of identity. While they are not necessarily rejecting other people’s views, they have stopped regarding such views as the ultimate definition of themselves.