Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAre They Aware?CharacteristicsEffectsRelating to the Self-CenteredChanging Self-Centeredness
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Are They Aware?
Characteristics
Effects
Relating to the Self-Centered
Changing Self-Centeredness
Being self-centered means someone is solely concerned with their own wants, needs, or interests.Self-centeredness is a psychological construct that can influence functioning.
This article will discuss whether people know they are being self-centered, the causes of self-centeredness, thecharacteristicsof self-centered people, the effects of self-centered behavior and thinking, how to respond to self-centered people, andhowto change your self-centeredness.
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Do People Know They’re Being Self-Centered?
People may engage in actions that intentionally disadvantage others or do so without considering how others will be affected.
In an ideal situation, people act with the aim of mutual benefit, providing aid and protection in a good way for everyone.
This doesn’t always work smoothly. For example, loneliness tends to increase self-centeredness because the lack of social support makes prioritizing your own needs necessary.
Medical factors, such as a brain injury, can cause self-centeredness. People with a brain injury may display the egocentricitynormally associated with a young childand lose the inability to view things from another person’s perspective. They often do not realize how their behavior impacts others.
Mental health conditions such as apersonality disordercan cause a person to behave self-centeredly without necessarily realizing it.
Mental Health Conditions Associated With Self-Centeredness
Medical conditions associated with self-centeredness include:
Characteristics of Self-Centered People
Seeingthings from another person’s perspectiveis a complex cognitive skill not everyone can do effectively.
Self-centered people may:
Self-Centered vs. SelfishThe difference between self-centered and selfish:Self-centerednessis the concern with only your own needs, wants, and interests.Selfishnessis similar but also involves being self-serving without regard to or at the expense of the welfare of others.
Self-Centered vs. Selfish
The difference between self-centered and selfish:Self-centerednessis the concern with only your own needs, wants, and interests.Selfishnessis similar but also involves being self-serving without regard to or at the expense of the welfare of others.
The difference between self-centered and selfish:
Effects of Self-Centered Behavior and Thinking
Loneliness and self-centeredness have a bidirectional relationship, meaning loneliness can increase self-centeredness, and self-centeredness can increase loneliness. Self-centeredness can lead to social isolation.
Self-centeredness has been associated with fluctuating happiness, while a more altruistic approach has been associated with more sustainable, authentic happiness.
Selfish motivation may be related to:
Self-centered thinking and behavior can impact others as well. Self-centered people tend to provide lower levels and less effective support to their partners. They are less likely to address their partner’s needs.
Friends and family of self-centered people can grow resentful or intolerant of the behavior over time and move away from the relationship.
How to Respond to Self-Centered People
It is important to set clear boundaries for acceptable behavior, avoid arguments, and be assertive with people who are self-centered.
Be aware of intentional and unintentionalmanipulative behaviorfrom the self-centered person attempting to get their way. Be assertive and refuse to get drawn into arguments.
If you have a loved one whose self-centeredness is due to a physical health condition, such as a brain injury, or a mental health condition, like a personality disorder, you may wish to consider connecting with support groups or online communities where you can meet others who can relate to your experiences.
Psychoeducation may also be helpful to you. With psychoeducation, the individual and their family members learn about the diagnosis, treatment, and ways of coping with the condition.
What to Do If You Want to Change Your Self-Centeredness
If you feel your self-centeredness is affecting you or those around you, you can take measures to make improvements.
The approach can depend on the cause of your self-centeredness.
For personality disorders, some types of psychotherapy (talk therapy) are effective at helping the person:
Thetype of psychotherapyused depends on the disorder’s specifics and the individual’s needs. Types of psychotherapy include:
Professionals you may choose to see can include:
Some research suggests that mindfulness and compassion training may help increase prosocial behavior.
Summary
Self-centeredness means focusing solely on your own needs and desires. People may or may not be aware they are being self-centered. Self-centeredness can be due to a physical condition, such as a brain injury, or it could occur with a mental health condition, such as a personality disorder.
Changing self-centeredness can depend on what is causing it. If you have apersonality disorder, you may benefit from psychotherapy.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merriam-Webster.Self-centered, adjective.Dambrun M.Self-centeredness and selflessness: happiness correlates and mediating psychological processes.PeerJ. 2017;5:e3306. doi:10.7717/peerj.3306Crocker J, Canevello A, Brown AA.Social motivation: costs and benefits of selfishness and otherishness.Annu Rev Psychol. 2017;68(1):299-325. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010416-044145University of Chicago.Loneliness contributes to self-centeredness for sake of self-preservation.Synapse.Self-centredness.American Psychiatric Association.What are personality disorders?Jhangiani DR, Tarry DH. 3.2 the feeling self: self-esteem. Published online January 26, 2022.American Psychological Association.Antisocial personality disorder.Wegemer CM.Selflessness, depression, and neuroticism: an interactionist perspective on the effects of self-transcendence, perspective-taking, and materialism.Front Psychol. 2020;11:523950. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.523950Merriam-Webster.Selfishness.Gloster AT, Rinner MTB, Meyer AH.Increasing prosocial behavior and decreasing selfishness in the lab and everyday life.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):21220. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-78251-z
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merriam-Webster.Self-centered, adjective.Dambrun M.Self-centeredness and selflessness: happiness correlates and mediating psychological processes.PeerJ. 2017;5:e3306. doi:10.7717/peerj.3306Crocker J, Canevello A, Brown AA.Social motivation: costs and benefits of selfishness and otherishness.Annu Rev Psychol. 2017;68(1):299-325. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010416-044145University of Chicago.Loneliness contributes to self-centeredness for sake of self-preservation.Synapse.Self-centredness.American Psychiatric Association.What are personality disorders?Jhangiani DR, Tarry DH. 3.2 the feeling self: self-esteem. Published online January 26, 2022.American Psychological Association.Antisocial personality disorder.Wegemer CM.Selflessness, depression, and neuroticism: an interactionist perspective on the effects of self-transcendence, perspective-taking, and materialism.Front Psychol. 2020;11:523950. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.523950Merriam-Webster.Selfishness.Gloster AT, Rinner MTB, Meyer AH.Increasing prosocial behavior and decreasing selfishness in the lab and everyday life.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):21220. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-78251-z
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Merriam-Webster.Self-centered, adjective.Dambrun M.Self-centeredness and selflessness: happiness correlates and mediating psychological processes.PeerJ. 2017;5:e3306. doi:10.7717/peerj.3306Crocker J, Canevello A, Brown AA.Social motivation: costs and benefits of selfishness and otherishness.Annu Rev Psychol. 2017;68(1):299-325. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010416-044145University of Chicago.Loneliness contributes to self-centeredness for sake of self-preservation.Synapse.Self-centredness.American Psychiatric Association.What are personality disorders?Jhangiani DR, Tarry DH. 3.2 the feeling self: self-esteem. Published online January 26, 2022.American Psychological Association.Antisocial personality disorder.Wegemer CM.Selflessness, depression, and neuroticism: an interactionist perspective on the effects of self-transcendence, perspective-taking, and materialism.Front Psychol. 2020;11:523950. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.523950Merriam-Webster.Selfishness.Gloster AT, Rinner MTB, Meyer AH.Increasing prosocial behavior and decreasing selfishness in the lab and everyday life.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):21220. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-78251-z
Merriam-Webster.Self-centered, adjective.
Dambrun M.Self-centeredness and selflessness: happiness correlates and mediating psychological processes.PeerJ. 2017;5:e3306. doi:10.7717/peerj.3306
Crocker J, Canevello A, Brown AA.Social motivation: costs and benefits of selfishness and otherishness.Annu Rev Psychol. 2017;68(1):299-325. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010416-044145
University of Chicago.Loneliness contributes to self-centeredness for sake of self-preservation.
Synapse.Self-centredness.
American Psychiatric Association.What are personality disorders?
Jhangiani DR, Tarry DH. 3.2 the feeling self: self-esteem. Published online January 26, 2022.
American Psychological Association.Antisocial personality disorder.
Wegemer CM.Selflessness, depression, and neuroticism: an interactionist perspective on the effects of self-transcendence, perspective-taking, and materialism.Front Psychol. 2020;11:523950. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.523950
Merriam-Webster.Selfishness.
Gloster AT, Rinner MTB, Meyer AH.Increasing prosocial behavior and decreasing selfishness in the lab and everyday life.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):21220. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-78251-z
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