The Dangerous Self

 

                                                    (image: youtube.com)

Ako an sentro nan kalibutan!

There is a lighthearted joke about naming someone "Celine Dion." The humor stems from the renowned singer's iconic hit, “It’s All Coming Back to Me.” While the song’s lyrics delve into revisiting poignant moments of her life, many playfully interpret the title as a declaration of pure self-centeredness—a cheeky ode to the "Me-Myself-and-I" phenomenon at its finest.

During a conversation with a psychologist, this writer once inquired about identifying the signs of leaning toward egocentric tendencies. The professional advised a simple yet insightful approach: count the occurrences of "me," "myself," and "I" in journal entries, and be mindful of how often these appear in everyday conversations as well.

Egocentrism refers to the tendency to focus excessively on oneself, often resulting in difficulty understanding or considering perspectives different from one's own (Piaget, 1951).

Research by Epley, Morewedge, and Keysar (2004) studied egocentrism to adults, illustrating how egocentric biases influence communication and decision-making.

Egocentric tendencies are characterized by a preoccupation with oneself, often evident in excessive self-referencing, lack of empathy, and dominating conversations by steering topics back to personal experiences. Individuals with these tendencies may struggle to accept criticism, assume their opinions are superior, and resist compromise, prioritizing personal desires over collaborative solutions.

They may also have difficulty distinguishing their perspective from others’, often believing their experiences or viewpoints are universal. Recognizing these behaviors is essential for fostering self-awareness and improving interpersonal relationships.

Egocentrism, while not classified as a standalone mental illness, can manifest in extreme forms associated with pathological conditions such as narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and antisocial personality disorder (APD), which pose risks to both the individual and others.

Research by Dimaggio et al. (2020) highlights how excessive self-focus and impaired empathy in NPD can lead to interpersonal conflicts and emotional distress. Similarly, studies by Hare (2003) on psychopathy, a subset of APD, reveal egocentrism as a core trait linked to manipulative and harmful behaviors.

When these tendencies escalate, they may contribute to relationship breakdowns, criminal behavior, or other detrimental outcomes, underscoring the need for early identification and intervention.

To augment wellness in individuals with egocentric tendencies, a holistic approach emphasizing reflections, self-awareness and empathy is crucial.

If ego overpowers, the soundtrack can be that from Tears for Fears: Mad World.