> They've wrapped themselves up in an identity greater than their self, they want to associate with it and steal some of the perceived value/amazingness (that they weren't responsible for creating).

I agree with most of your post.

However, there’s also the desire to paint one’s own context, biases and giving credit to the shoulders one stands on.

How can you differentiate between negative and positive intentions of communicating one’s context? Just by (often faked) humility? And how do you spot the fake?