Good question.
I'm Kelly Shui.
[On self-centeredness, those interested can explore it together.
Thank you for bringing this up. It helps me understand it better.
Ego-centrism is a concept by Swiss psychologist J. Piaget.
Infants are strongly influenced by their own needs and feelings.
It's hard for babies to understand things without feeling. They reason based on feelings and don't pay attention to others' intentions.
Piaget called this self-centeredness.
He also believed that after birth, a baby's self-centeredness fades around 18 months. At this time, a child's body and movements must be referenced to understand their objective relationship.
Let's talk about self-centeredness.
Psychology also talks about life cycles. Different cycles have different development trends. Piaget said that the infant stage is important. Here's an example:
A self-centered baby is like, "I'm hungry, I want to eat," and wants food or his mother. The baby may not understand that his mother is busy or the caregiver doesn't have time.
Mothers who have raised children before will pay attention to their child when they cry. Is this mother's reaction self-centered or infantile?
A mature mother will take care of her child. If she has never been told to care about her child's feelings, is she willing to take care of the baby?
We can assume this mother is self-centered or infantile.
What kind of personality will this baby develop?
Are self-centered people disrespectful?
It depends on the relationship. We saw this a lot when we were students. I had a classmate who was spoiled by his parents. At school, we shared snacks with our classmates.
This student was unwilling.
She was jealous and angry when she met girls who were better than her. She was also a bit narcissistic.
We learn from our environment and education. As a student, I didn't like certain classmates and could have kept my distance.
We can use friends and classmates as mirrors. I understand her, but I don't agree with her.
Her behavior made me reflect on myself. Some classmates were friendly and shared food. They encouraged others. I liked them and discovered their parents were loving.
Environment, family, and parents are important. Some people have selfish parents, but they can learn to think critically. Learning is a lifelong process.
We can see and feel when someone is self-centered.
Friends I met
I also have a schoolmate who is stingy.
Later, I found out her parents favored her brother and she felt insecure. When she was with people, she was calculating and scheming.
I should pay more often during meals so she could feel my love. She told me stories about her childhood.
She's helpful when it's not about money. She'll teach me again and again when I have trouble with my studies.
Later, I also became curious about human nature. As a student, I didn't like people who were jealous and schemed behind others' backs.
I would have less contact with people like my schoolmate. There are still quite a lot of them around me. They are self-centered, but they also have some advantages.
We grow through relationships, observation, and curiosity. Counselors must accept people and learn to see the beauty in them.
Human nature is complex. Everyone has shortcomings and limitations, and can choose what they can accept.
It also helps us think and grow.
I like your observations and thinking.
Recommended books: Growing through Relationships, Personal Development Theory


Comments
Being selfcentered means having a strong focus on oneself, often at the expense of considering others. A selfcentered person might dominate conversations, disregard the needs and feelings of others, and expect special treatment or immediate attention to their requests. To determine if someone is selfcentered, observe if they consistently prioritize their own interests over those of the group or show little empathy for others.
It's true that selfcentered individuals can come across as if they believe the world should revolve around them. They may not necessarily be disrespectful in a traditional sense; rather, they might lack the awareness or skills to appreciate and respect the perspectives and boundaries of others. Sometimes, this behavior can stem from an upbringing where such interpersonal skills were not nurtured properly.
I have encountered selfcentered people, and it can be quite challenging. There was one colleague who always needed to be the center of attention and would interrupt others to talk about their own achievements. It created a tense environment where collaboration was difficult because everyone had to navigate around their need for spotlight.
Selfcenteredness can sometimes be a defense mechanism or a sign of insecurity. People who exhibit this trait might be seeking validation or trying to mask deeper issues. I once knew someone like this, and over time, as they grew more comfortable with themselves, their behavior improved significantly. It shows that change is possible with selfawareness and effort.
In my experience, dealing with a selfcentered person requires a lot of patience. I remember a friend who was constantly late and expected everyone to wait for them without consideration for others' time. It took several honest conversations to help them realize how their actions affected those around them. Eventually, they started making an effort to be more considerate.