Some of this is just European politeness. You keep people at bay at your castle walls, and then show your true self beyond those walls. The biggest question I get from a newly moved in German to America is why everyone is smiling all the time. I have to explain it's American politeness, and is just as strong as European walls.

On the other hand, Sweden is full of people who are obsessed with being better than everyone else. It's why they went socialist, because they were told it's better. It's why they're assholes, because they think they're better. I have good friends who are swedish, and they admit this is a big problem.