Definition

Noun: * Excessive concern with one's own interests, needs, and feelings, with little or no regard for others: The state or quality of being primarily focused on oneself; egoism.

Usage

• "Self-centeredness" is an uncountable noun describing a personal quality or trait.
• It is typically used in a negative or critical context to describe someone's character or behavior.
• It can be the subject or object of a sentence, often following verbs like "show," "demonstrate," or "overcome."

Examples

• His constant made it difficult for him to maintain friendships.
• The therapist helped her recognize and address her deep-seated .
• A degree of is natural in young children, but most outgrow it.

Advanced Usage

• Psychological context: In psychology, extreme can be a feature of certain personality traits or disorders.
  • His lack of empathy was clinically significant, pointing to more than simple self-centeredness.
• Societal critique: Used to critique a cultural or social focus on individualism.
  • The author argues that modern consumer culture promotes a harmful self-centeredness.

Variants and Related Words

• Self-centered (adjective): Having or showing self-centeredness.
  • He was a self-centered individual who rarely considered others.
• Self-absorption (noun): A more intense form of self-centeredness, implying complete preoccupation with oneself.
• Egocentrism (noun): A closely related term, often used in developmental psychology to describe a young child's natural inability to see perspectives other than their own.

Synonyms

• Egoism
• Selfishness
• Self-absorption
• Self-interest
• Narcissism (implies a more extreme, pathological form)

Antonyms

• Selflessness
• Altruism
• Generosity
• Considerateness
• Unselfishness

Idioms and Phrases

• Wrapped up in oneself: An idiom describing a state of self-centeredness.
  • He's so wrapped up in himself that he didn't even notice she was upset.

Noun

1. concern for your own interests and welfare