Definition of selfish behavior

Selfish Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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[ sel-fish ]

/ ˈsɛl fɪʃ /

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adjective

devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.

characterized by or manifesting concern or care only for oneself: selfish motives.

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OTHER WORDS FOR selfish

1 self-interested, self-seeking, egoistic; illiberal, parsimonious, stingy.

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QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is commonly used with other verbs to express intention?

Origin of selfish

First recorded in 1630–40; self + -ish¹

OTHER WORDS FROM selfish

self·ish·ly, adverbself·ish·ness, noun

Words nearby selfish

self-instructional, self-insurance, self-insure, self-insurer, self-interest, selfish, selfishness, self-judgment, self-justification, self-justifying, self-knowledge

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to selfish

egotistical, greedy, narcissistic, self-centered, egocentric, egoistic, egoistical, egomaniacal, egotistic, hoggish, mean, mercenary, miserly, narrow, narrow-minded, parsimonious, prejudiced, self-indulgent, self-interested, self-seeking

How to use selfish in a sentence

For her postdoctoral work, Zanders focused on a particular type of dustup caused by some selfish genes — genes that propagate themselves even if it hurts the host.
This year’s SN 10 scientists aim to solve some of science’s biggest challenges|Science News Staff|September 30, 2020|Science News
The most effective strategy was the selfish strategy where everyone tried to go as fast as possible.
Complexity Scientist Beats Traffic Jams Through Adaptation|Rodrigo Pérez Ortega|September 28, 2020|Quanta Magazine
Their response to the pandemic and this great work that pharma people are doing has reminded many of their capacities and how they can be helpful to the world—as opposed to the industry being viewed as kind of selfish and uncooperative.
When Bill Gates thinks we’ll have a COVID-19 vaccine—and why that won’t be the end of the pandemic|cleaf2013|September 21, 2020|Fortune
The next day the mayor called the partiers “absolutely reckless and selfish,” and she closed the beach parking to make an example of them.
The Climate Crisis Is Happening Right Now. Just Look at California’s Weekend. |by Elizabeth Weil|September 9, 2020|ProPublica

I feel selfish in a sense because I’m one of the lucky ones.
We need a COVID vaccine. We also need to figure out how to get it to people|Sy Mukherjee|August 27, 2020|Fortune
Emetophobia tends to compromise my relationships, turning me into a selfish jerk.
Why My Norovirus Panic Makes Me Sick|Lizzie Crocker|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Self-marriage is the ultimate brand extension of a self-obsessed, selfish populus.
Why Singles Should Say ‘I Don’t’ to The Self-Marriage Movement|Tim Teeman|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Scrooge is still with us, not just in print but embodied in the cold hearts and selfish calculations of misanthropes everywhere.
How Dickens and Scrooge Saved Christmas|Clive Irving|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What should have been a moment of reckoning for a selfish, serial liar instead ended with us pitying him.
The Walking Dead’s ‘Self Help’: A Grim Show Displays Its Comedy Streak, and A Major Reveal|Melissa Leon|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What if an affair is a process of positive self-discovery rather than selfish carnal impulses?
Why You’re Happily Married and Having an Affair|Ryan Selzer|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His ambition is a purely selfish one, while mine is distinctly benevolent.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
No, no,” added Mr. Pickwick more cheerfully, “it would be selfish and ungrateful.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
One would imagine, to hear these (p. 171) people talk, that smoking was the only selfish indulgence in the world.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
"I fear, for my part, it is only a very selfish pleasure," he said a trifle unctuously.

Three More John Silence Stories|Algernon Blackwood
Let no opportunity be missed of exposing the true character of the vile and selfish agitators of the Anti-corn-law league.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various

British Dictionary definitions for selfish

selfish

/ (ˈsɛlfɪʃ) /

adjective

chiefly concerned with one's own interest, advantage, etc, esp to the total exclusion of the interests of others

relating to or characterized by self-interest

Derived forms of selfish

selfishly, adverbselfishness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

14 warning signs of selfish people to keep them from hurting you

This may sound ironic but it’s true.

Selfish people don’t know they’re being selfish.

They just assume they’re nice people who care about their own happiness more than anything else.

But on their journey towards finding their happiness, they carelessly and intentionally walk over people.

According to F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. in Psychology Today, there are two defining characteristics of selfishness:

“Being concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself; Having no regard for the needs or feelings of others.”

In every relationship, be it platonic or romantic, partners give and take from each other in equal measures without keeping count.

But a relationship with a selfish person means that they extract your love and affections, without giving back in return. They think that they are needed more than they need you.

Unfortunately, the traits of selfish people are not easy to notice. Most of the time, they are people pleasers and hide their dark side very well.

Barth says that dealing consistently with someone is selfish can make your life miserable:

“Books have been written about narcissism, “Generation Me,” even “healthy” selfishness. But when someone you have to deal with regularly is consistently self-involved and self-centered, they can make your life miserable.”

According to Art Markman, Ph.D., professor of psychology, narcissists and psychopaths “tend to be quite selfish and manipulative”.

Not until you let them in and drop your guard down that they start showing their true colors.

So watch out for these early signs that I believe make up a selfish person.

1) Selfish people are very good manipulators

Ultimately, with a selfish person, all situations and relationships are about them.

According to emotional healing expert Darlene Ouimet, manipulative people simply don’t question themselves:

“Controllers, abusers, and manipulative people don’t question themselves. They don’t ask themselves if the problem is them. They always say the problem is someone else.”

A manipulative person refers to someone who seeks to control people and circumstances just to achieve what they want. They might use emotional blackmail. Selfish people are skilled manipulators by instinct and a control freak at heart.

According to Abigail Brenner M.D. in Psychology Today, manipulative people “truly believe that their way of handling a situation is the only way because it means that their needs are being met, and that’s all that matters.”

Manipulation is a scary thing because it is not something that people are born with. It’s developed over time and is practiced.

2) Selfish people plot and scheme against you

This is particularly the case of selfish people that are full-blown narcissists.

Selfish people are manipulative and they’re looking to get something out of you for their own benefit.

Abigail Brenner M.D. wrote on Psychology Today, “Manipulative people are really not interested in you except as a vehicle to allow them to gain control so that you become an unwilling participant in their plans.”

They might start mentioning weeks in advance about something that might happen or they fear will happen.

So when shit hits the fan, don’t be surprised and do what you can to get back control of the situation.

If you want to learn more about the signs of manipulative people and how to deal with them, watch this video we made on traits of a conniving person and how to deal with them.

3) Selfish people are uncaring towards others

Selfish people are uncaring and neglectful of other people’s needs.

For example, if you open up your emotions to them, they may try to manipulate you to get what they want or make you feel guilty.

According to Timothy J. Legg, Ph.D., CRNP in Health Line, if you’re upset, an emotionally manipulative person may try to make you feel guilty for your feelings.

They may use phrases like “If you really loved me, you’d never question me” or “I couldn’t take that job. I wouldn’t want to be away from my kids so much.”

If you are in this situation, you should not rely on them. Rather, learn to put yourself first when you are with them.

4) Selfish people are conceited and self-centered

The way selfish people think is that they want to be put first. However, they are not satisfied with being the priority. They also want to put you down.

Ever met someone who insists that everything they say is of relevance and everything that you say is not? That is a classic example of a selfish person.

According to F. Diane Barth L. C.S.W. in Psychology Today, self-involved people are unlikely to be very responsive to your needs:

“If someone is both totally self-involved and uncaring about anyone else, they are not likely to be very responsive to you in any way other than evaluating how you meet their needs.”

The way in which to deal with this is to simply ignore them. Let them be how they are and do not let it affect you personally.

5) Selfish people find sharing and giving difficult

Maybe you know of a selfish person but you have some doubts because that someone shows a caring side.

Let me tell you this, it’s all fake. Caring, sharing, and giving are not an easy thing for them to do and those actions will show through in this situation.

For one, they will want something in exchange. Maybe they want everyone to know about it so that they are praised for it.

If you are in this situation, just let their gesture of goodwill go unnoticed and don’t praise them for it.

6) Selfish people put their own goals ahead of other people

Art Markman, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Texas and author of Brain Briefs, told SELF, “When we call someone selfish (as a trait), we mean that they consistently put their own goals ahead of those of other people.”

According to Sarah Newman, MA, MFA in Psych Central, “Selfish people need other people, and that’s why they’re always violating boundaries.”

Because of their way of thinking, they expect other people to do things for them. When you see that this is happening, do not let them have what they want.

It’s all about control, so do not give it to them.

7) Selfish people do not show weakness or vulnerability

Selfish people do not do anything for free. They have the fear of trying something and feeling that the action doesn’t actually help or serve much of a purpose.

It’s always “What’s in it for me?”

According to Leon F Seltzer Ph.D., narcissists “are effective in safeguarding against extreme vulnerability. ”

Selfish or narcissistic people are scared to show weakness. They think that by helping other people, he or she is demonstrating weakness or internal insecurity.

They do not realize that everyone has weaknesses, even them. These weaknesses are what make us human but for them, they are above all else so they are close to being perfect.

8) Selfish people don’t accept constructive criticism

People who are selfish cannot and will not accept constructive criticism. Their huge egos just can’t process that constructive criticism is for their own good.

Krauss explained on Psychology Today that, “Egocentrism can cause us to make incorrect assumptions about what other people are thinking or feeling” and “annoyed or even enraged when others fail to see things their way. ”

This is particularly the case with a narcissist, says Leon F Seltzer Ph.D. in Psychology Today:

“When criticized, narcissists show themselves woefully incapable of retaining any emotional poise, or receptivity. ”

They only think that you are attempting to devalue their work and their potential. This situation will always end up with the selfish person defending themselves.

Indeed, it is very difficult for them to realize that they are wrong.

RELATED: My life was going nowhere, until I had this one revelation

9) Selfish people believe they deserve everything

Being selfish is not only characterized with self-centeredness but also with false sense of entitlement.

For example, they expect to be continuously rewarded even without doing anything. The reason? They just deserve everything and they’re perfect.

According to Margalis Fjelstad, PhD, LMFT in Mind Body Green, narcissists believe that everything around them should be perfect:

“They believe they should be perfect, you should be perfect, events should happen exactly as expected, and life should play out precisely as they envision it. This is an excruciatingly impossible demand, which results in the narcissist feeling dissatisfied and miserable much of the time. ”

They believe that they will always be successful because they are who they are.

10) Selfish people do not listen to those who do not agree with them

According to Timothy J. Legg, PhD, CRNP in Health Line, narcissists “can be too busy talking about themselves to listen to you….[they] won’t stop talking about themselves…[and] won’t engage in conversation about you.”

When you say something to a selfish person, even if it’s constructive, will be taken against you. They will think that you are their enemy and you do not deserve their respect or attention.

Criticism is good because it lets you learn from the opinions of others. But a selfish person has no time to broaden one’s horizons and grow.

11) Selfish people criticize others behind their backs

Selfish people prefer easy judgment and nothing is easier than judging behind a person’s back.

Deep down, they fear that they are not right and will pass this judgment to others, from a distance.

They may do this because they believe they are better than other people, according to Rhonda Freeman Ph.D. in Psychology Today on an article on narcissism:

“They believe they are better than other people, and usually, the variables that are self-enhanced are related to “power and status.”

12) Selfish people exaggerate their achievements

One of the most notorious deficiencies of selfish people is their lack of humility.

Humility, considered as a precious human virtue, is needed for us to grow as people and as social beings in our environment.

But selfish people, having huge egos, will always look for ways to stand out and exaggerate their achievements.

Unfortunately, Rhonda Freeman says that you won’t be able to change their mind, either:

“Indisputable evidence of their inaccurate, overly inflated self-assessment does not change the self-view of someone high in narcissism.”

13) Selfish people are scared of public failure

Suzanne Degges-White Ph. D. says that “narcissists are unable to tolerate failure of any sort and public humiliation is considered the worst type of failure that could happen.”

Selfish people cannot bring themselves to think of their failure. When they fail, either they run from the situation or blame others.

However, when other people fail is another story. They don’t think twice about giving out severe criticism when others fail.

Most of the time, they are the first ones to tell you that you “should’ve seen that coming.”

14) Selfish people dominate others

According to Dan Neuharth, Ph.D., MFT, “Many narcissists pursue a win-at-all-costs, anything-goes approach.”

Do you know someone who calls you up whenever he or she feels like it? Or asks you to meet them at their whims and fancies?

This is one characteristic of a selfish person – they wrap you around their fingers and it’s pretty hard to break loose. Victims of selfish people end up losing confidence.

Dan Neuharth says that “Narcissists distort the truth through disinformation, oversimplifying, ridiculing and sowing doubt. Narcissists can be incredibly skilled at using classic elements of thought-control and brainwashing.”

If you are in this situation, turn the table around and do not lose your personality. If they can’t take your assertiveness, they will walk out of your life. And that’s a good thing for you.

If you’re wondering how to deal with a selfish person, check out the below 9 tips.

How to deal with selfish people: 9 no-nonsense tips

1) Accept that they have no regard for others

As annoying as it is that you’re dealing with a selfish person, you need to accept the way they are.

Otherwise, you’ll get frustrated and annoyed with their behavior.

According to Sarah Newman, MA, MFA in Psych Central, “Selfish people consume the time and energy of others and, despite what you tell yourself, there’s no end in sight to their narcissism.”

Here are some things that you need to accept about them, rather than get frustrated by:

– They won’t put your needs first.
– They won’t be thoughtful and considerate.
– They’ll purely look out for their own interests.

Once you’ve accepted these things about them, you won’t negatively react when they act selfish. Because they will act selfish.

And now you can focus on the below more important ways to deal with them.

2) Give yourself the attention you know you deserve

Selfish people only want attention for themselves. But they don’t want to give it.

And there’s no point trying to change a selfish narcissistic person. According to licensed clinical psychologist Dianne Grande, Ph.D., a narcissist “will only change if it serves his or her purpose.”

So it’s time to turn the tide and focus on yourself.

Forget about their problems that they can’t stop babbling about and focus on you.

If you’re feeling a bit down, ask yourself why. If you feel a little shabby, go and get a haircut and a massage.

You don’t have to ignore your own needs to give attention to a self-absorbed energy sucker.

It will only make you emotionally drained and you won’t be able to help out people who actually do need the help.

3) Whatever you do, don’t fall to their level

Selfish people are frustrating. They only care about themselves and they’ll manipulate you to get what they want.

While it may be difficult to not be triggered by a selfish person’s behavior, there’s no point in attacking them. As Marla Tabaka points out in INC, your “energy is better spent in a productive conversation, which you’ll find elsewhere.”

According to Timothy J. Legg, PhD, CRNP in Health Line “don’t try to beat them. Two people shouldn’t play this game.”

So it’s crucial that you keep your wits about it and don’t play their game. If you feel like they’re manipulating you so you can help them out, put a stop to it.

In the same vein, don’t emotionally react to their selfish behavior.

If they cause you to be angry or frustrated, then you’re falling to their level of toxic energy, which won’t do anyone any good.

Know yourself and the loving person that you are.

4) Don’t give them attention

According to Margalis Fjelstad, PhD, LMFT in Mind Body Green:

“Narcissists need constant attention—even following you around the house, asking you to find things, or constantly saying something to grab your attention.”

Selfish people crave people’s attention. They constantly look for sympathy. This is why they love to play the victim.

So if you can avoid them, do it. As M.I.T. negotiation professor John Richardson says: never asked yourself first, “How do I make this deal?” Instead, start with, “Should this deal be made?” With narcissists, the answer is usually it’s not worth it.

5) Don’t just talk about what they’re interested in – talk about what interests you

Self-absorbed people can sabotage your conversations so that they only talk about themselves and what they’re interested in.

According to Preston Ni M. S.B.A. in Psychology Today:

“The narcissist loves to talk about him or herself, and doesn’t give you a chance to take part in a two-way conversation.”

Be mindful of this and don’t let it happen.

You’re not there to simply be a listener, especially when the topic of conversation is boring and it’s all about them.

Bring up random and interesting stories that you love to talk about. If they can’t handle it and want to get away from you, even better!

6) Stop doing everything that they demand you to do

There’s no getting around it: Selfish people want people to do things for them.

The kicker?

They won’t do anything for anyone else.

While it’s important to help out someone when they need help, there’s a line you don’t cross.

Preston Ni M.S.B.A. in Psychology Today offers some great advice:

“The single most important guideline when you’re dealing with a psychologically manipulative person is to know your rights, and recognize when they’re being violated. As long as you do not harm others, you have the right to stand up for yourself and defend your rights.”

If they’re constantly asking you to do things for them and they’re doing nothing in return, then you need to put a stop to this one-sided agreement.

It’s time to be assertive and stand up for yourself.

In a sensible manner, let them know that they never do anything for you and expect the world for themselves. You’re just as important as they are.

7) Don’t spend too much time with them

This is an obvious one, but many people make the same mistake over and over.

If you’re getting frustrated with how toxic and self-absorbed they are, limit your time with them.

Timothy J. Legg, PhD, CRNP has some great advice in Health Line:

“Take charge and carve out some “me time.” Take care of yourself first and remember that it’s not your job to fix them.”

Simple, right?

Sometimes you have to respect yourself and your time. They might complain that you don’t have much time for them anymore, but stand firm.

Only see them every now and then. In this way, you can keep the friendship going but you won’t be as affected by their toxic energy.

8) Hang out with people better

The people you hang out with have a huge influence on your life.

According to life hacking expert Tim Ferriss, we’re the average of the 5 people we hang out with most.

If you continually hang out with selfish people, you might become selfish yourself. Now I know and you know that you don’t want that.

So what can you do? Hang out with people who are positive and uplifting. Life is too short to spend time with toxic and selfish people!

9) End the relationship

This is a drastic step. But if this selfish person is really getting to you and they’re seriously hindering your life, then you might want to consider what life might look like without them.

If this selfish person is a narcissist, it’s not out of the question that they’ll damage you emotionally.

Narcissists are all about themselves and they’ll do anything to get what they want.

As we have mentioned above, there’s not much point in trying to change them as a narcissist “will only change if it serves his or her purpose.”

Sometimes you need to look out for yourself and your own emotional health. If you feel that they have the potential to damage you, then it might be time to bite the bullet and get rid of them.

In conclusion

Selfish people cause pain to the people around them.

They shatter hearts and cause problems for anyone.

Selfishness comes with immaturity. The most you can do is to let them stop controlling you to teach them that they’re wrong.

Let them know that they cannot control you. Hopefully, they will get the hint and go away.

Or they will realize it’s time to change.

Just keep your fingers crossed.

How this one Buddhist teaching turned my life around

My lowest ebb was around 6 years ago.

I was a guy in my mid-20s who was lifting boxes all day in a warehouse. I had few satisfying relationships – with friends or women – and a monkey mind that wouldn’t shut itself off.

During that time, I lived with anxiety, insomnia and way too much useless thinking going on in my head.

My life seemed to be going nowhere. I was a ridiculously average guy and deeply unhappy to boot.

The turning point for me was when I discovered Buddhism.

By reading everything I could about Buddhism and other eastern philosophies, I finally learned how to let things go that were weighing me down, including my seemingly hopeless career prospects and disappointing personal relationships.

In many ways, Buddhism is all about letting things go. Letting go helps us break away from negative thoughts and behaviors that do not serve us, as well as loosening the grip on all our attachments.

Fast forward 6 years and I’m now the founder of Hack Spirit, one of the leading self improvement blogs on the internet.

Just to be clear: I’m not a Buddhist. I have no spiritual inclinations at all. I’m just a regular guy who turned his life around by adopting some amazing teachings from eastern philosophy.

Click here to read more about my story.

Can a relationship coach help you too?

If you want specific advice on your situation, it can be very helpful to speak to a relationship coach.

I know this from personal experience…

A few months ago, I reached out to Relationship Hero when I was going through a tough patch in my relationship. After being lost in my thoughts for so long, they gave me a unique insight into the dynamics of my relationship and how to get it back on track.

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What is selfishness in reality and how to deal with it

The word "egoist" is translated as "I am." Selfish behavior is manifested everywhere - in gestures, speech, appearance, actions, and also leaves an imprint on professional activities. An egoist seeks exclusively for his own benefit and benefit.

What does selfishness mean in simple terms

In psychology, egoism is a natural human need, formed in the process of evolution. The difference is only in scale, so modern experts distinguish 2 forms of egoism - moderate and extreme.

Selfishness is still one of the least studied personality traits.

Extreme egoists behave consumerly with others, including even relatives. They are unable to assess the consequences of their own actions, and their relationships with family and loved ones are more like parasitism.

Attention! According to Wikipedia, the pursuit and upholding of one's own benefit is considered to be an extreme form of selfishness. Moreover, a person can help another if it will benefit him personally.

Types of selfishness

There are many varieties of selfishness:

hidden and obvious;
female and male;
post-traumatic;
age;
intellectual;
altruistic.

An obvious egoist lives according to the principle “I am the center of the universe, I demand submission and admiration.” The hidden egoist is more difficult to define, as he makes others feel pity: “I am a victim, and I suffer. Only an enemy worthy of universal condemnation can not support me.

A hidden form of egoism often suffers from:

children who fake tantrums;
the elderly, especially the unhealthy and weak;
irresponsible individuals.

Hidden selfishness is, in fact, a way of manipulation. After all, it does not cause aggression and desire to resist an assertive opponent. That is why a selfish person who hides painful self-esteem from others uses them very skillfully in his own interests.

The American philosopher J. Rose in his book "Theory of Justice" describes 3 types of selfishness in life:

No.	Attitude towards oneself and others, life credo	definition
one	Everyone owes me	All members of society serve the interests of one person
2	I do not owe anything to anyone	The individual pursues only his own benefit, ignoring social norms and violating prohibitions.
3	No one owes nothing to nobody	Everyone acts in their own interests and does not recognize rules, restrictions

An individual can behave selfishly in order to protect himself, maintain a standard of living and self-affirmation. The selfishness of self-defence is a basic instinct given by nature. Even the most balanced and intelligent people can turn into crazy savages in a situation that threatens their life and health. Everyone has seen how, during natural disasters and natural disasters, a stampede is created at the exits, and the distraught crowd runs, sweeping away everything and everything in its path.

How egoists behave: typical traits

The egoist always, under any circumstances, strives to satisfy his own needs and does not take into account the interests of other people. He doesn't care if anyone gets hurt because of his actions. However, it is not always easy to recognize an egoist, as he is well disguised.

You can recognize an egoist if you pay attention to a number of characteristic manifestations. Selfish behavior includes:

a tendency to blame others for one's own mistakes and failures;
100% certainty that you are right;
inability to listen to the interlocutor;
boasting;
attempts to manipulate others;
demonstration of material well-being;
indestructible desire to be in the center of attention;
evaluating people by "status" - wealth, success, level of intelligence.

You can call a person an egoist if you have at least 3 of the above signs. 1-2 manifestations are not enough, because each of us can periodically “turn on the egoist” in different situations.

Book an online consultation if you are regularly accused of being selfish and you are desperate to win back the favor of others. Our psychologists will tell you how to get rid of selfishness, cultivate responsiveness and generosity. Consultations are conducted remotely, by phone, around the clock.

Selfishness Quick Guide

In psychology, there are many ways to become less selfish if you really think your point of view is the best and hate helping others. Such a character trait as selfishness can be corrected, but this will take some time.

1 - ask for help

The value orientation of the individual to selfishness makes it difficult to admit mistakes and ask for help from others. Admit that you too have weaknesses, and don't be shy to ask for help from family and friends. Thus, you make it clear that in some way these people are superior to you.

2 - know how to thank

Gratitude is a powerful creative feeling that fills a person with positive energy. It not only teaches to appreciate everything that life gives, but also helps to distinguish one's own from someone else's. After all, selfish natures often consider as their own what does not belong to them. Due to the lack of sincere appreciation, conflicts and misunderstandings often arise.

Case study:

After the birth of a child, Larisa often asked her mother to sit with him. But she took the help for granted and did not say “thank you”. Such a consumer attitude did not suit the mother, and the selfish daughter in response accused her of not loving her granddaughter.

If the daughter were grateful to her mother for her help and returned kindness for kindness, then a common problem would unite them, strengthening their family ties.

Start thanking people for everything they do for you. Try to notice the good that is in your life thanks to relatives and friends. Do not skimp on kind words, share positive emotions.

Sign up for an online consultation if you find it difficult to subdue your egoistic qualities. Our psychologists will listen to you and outline the main points that you should pay attention to. We consult around the clock by phone.

3 - learn to compromise

When your interests do not coincide with others, look for a middle ground. Then everyone will be able to satisfy their needs and will not feel deprived.

For example, your child wants to go to a ski resort, and you dream of a beach holiday by the sea. Then just choose a country where there are both mountains and sea.

It is worth considering the scale of your own and others' needs. In practice, it looks like this: your husband plans to watch the final of the Boxing World Cup, and another episode of your series is on another channel at that time. The husband is a passionate fan of boxing, and he cannot miss a sporting event. Thus, the need of your second half is greater, so it is worth giving in to him.

Attention! When it comes to dealing with a group of people, it is important to hear everyone's opinion. So it's easier to come to a common denominator. Otherwise, they act as the majority decides.

FAQ

What are the benefits of natural selfishness?

When selfish needs are a priority, a person receives at least a double benefit. Firstly, he achieves his goals faster and easier, since he is not influenced by public opinion and does not follow the lead of relatives and friends. He acts boldly, not worrying about hurting anyone. A selfish attitude to life leaves no room for doubt when it is necessary to refuse someone. The ability to say “no” is one of the main character traits of an egoist.

What is included in the concept of "correct egoism"?

In short, a person with a healthy sense of selfishness pursues his own interests first, but he considers the opinions of other people. This means that he respects the wishes of the opponent, but does not change his principles either. A “reasonable” egoist is always ready to compromise and come to a mutual agreement.

How do I know how selfish I am?

There are signs of an egoist in this article (see content). You can also take an online screening test by answering a few questions, or call our psychologists.

Why do people do selfish things?

Selfishness is, in essence, a consequence of improper upbringing. Selfish children grow up most often in families with an authoritarian or, conversely, too democratic style of upbringing. If parents do not see a personality in a child, do not teach independence and responsibility, he will almost certainly become a capricious egoist. Excessive guardianship and lack of attention can also lead to this result.

Expert opinion

Everyone has selfishness within reasonable limits. It is natural for people to take care of themselves and their loved ones, because this is inherent in nature itself. But sometimes selfishness takes hypertrophied forms: a person gets hung up on himself and does not take into account the interests of others at all.

What can be done here? In short, it is necessary to develop adequate self-esteem and get rid of selfishness. Develop an understanding of your own importance without exaggerating it. Review your habitual scenarios of superiority in relationships with loved ones. Communicate with everyone on an equal footing, respect the opinions of others. In severe cases, contact a psychologist.

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Article author

Monakhova Albina Petrovna clinical psychologist

Experience 17 years

Consultations 1439

Articles 245

Specialist in clinical psychology. Help in finding tools for self-realization, working out beliefs, fears and anxieties. Work with self-attitude, internal boundaries, understanding of interaction with society through conscious personal changes.

2007 - 2008 MUS Children's polyclinic No. 4 - teacher psychologist
2008 - 2009Healthy Country LLC - Clinical Psychologist
2009 - 2021 Republican Narcological Dispensary - psychologist
2012 - 2013 Occupational medicine - psychologist
2013 - 2015 LLC Vozrozhdenie - psychologist
2019 to present Teledoctor24 LLC - psychologist

What is selfishness really and how to deal with it

What does selfishness mean in simple terms

In psychology, egoism is a natural human need, formed in the process of evolution. The difference is only in scale, so modern experts distinguish 2 forms of egoism - moderate and extreme.

Selfishness is still one of the least studied personality traits.