The concept of
egocentricity is used to refer to various traits and attitudes that certain people have. The term egocentricity comes from the Greek words “ego” (self) and “latria” (worship, admiration), and has implications for the world of psychology, since indicates a particular personality type .

Egolatry: a definition of the concept

The
Real Academia Española defines egocentricity as the “cult, adoration or excessive love of self”.

The egocentricity is, then,
a characteristic of the personality of some individuals, in that they constantly flaunt a confidence in their own potential , falling into self-admiration and self-cult, to the point where this exaggerated perception can be pathological and cause problems in social interactions.

What are selfish people like?

Individuals with egomaniacal traits and characteristics often generate rejection among those around them. In addition, the egotistical personality has been present in many historical figures.

For example, in biographies and historiographical documents we can see that Adolf Hitler, Napoleon Bonaparte, Genghis Khan and Josif Stalin were historical figures with a markedly egomaniacal character. Today, perhaps the most popular reference is the magnate and current president of the United States, Donald Trump.

In this sense, egocentricity is often related to other concepts, such as
egocentrism, narcissism, arrogance, excessive self-esteem, false self-confidence or megalomania.

While there are areas where these concepts coincide, there are also some important differences and nuances. In any case, it should be taken into account that egocentricity refers to a subjective perception of the individual, to how he perceives his worth, in this case in an exaggeratedly positive way. However,
egocentricity tells us little about the translation of this perception into interpersonal relationships . In other words: an egomaniac can be an egomaniac and yet the people around him may not perceive him as especially vain or arrogant.

When this feature is compensated

Reading the meaning of the word egocentricity we may think that it is a characteristic that produces rejection. However, in certain cases being an egomaniac is very practical. For example, when one’s well-being depends on getting attention.

This is the case of many famous people, who naturally express their ideas of grandiosity through what they do, say and appear to be; this makes them receive the attention of the cameras and continue to charge more for it.

12 common traits and attitudes

However,
it is common for egomaniacal people to tend to externalize this trait through certain attitudes and behaviors that may be reprehensible to other individuals.

Some of these attitudes, behaviors and traits are described below:

  • Have an exaggerated perception of their attributes and qualities
  • They attach great importance to money and power
  • They have feelings of greatness: they are confident that they will achieve great goals and objectives in their lives
  • Although they may enjoy more than sufficient social skills, they tend to be rather lonely individuals, as they often generate a certain social rejection when others become aware of their egocentricity
  • They tend to show a great attachment to all aspects that reinforce their image of successful people
  • They like to generate envy and jealousy in others
  • They may tend to be superficial, making instrumental friendships that allow them to achieve certain purposes and gain status
  • They distort reality, and in some cases they may have difficulty carrying out a rational analysis of their personal worth
  • In some cases, they may be people with little empathy, unwilling to offer help and support to others
  • They can’t stand being criticized and take it personally
  • They may tend to constantly compare themselves with others, becoming angry if they consider someone less valuable than them to be in a better job or to have a more affluent life
  • In certain cases, there is a tendency to exhibitionism, for example, flaunting material and economic achievements, as a way of reinforcing their self-perception as people of great worth and social status

Causes and motivations of this type of individual

From a psychological point of view, there are many factors and motivations that can lead a person to develop this characteristic.
Egocentricity is a trait associated with certain affective and emotional deficiencies , since it is usually understood from psychology that a person with a balanced emotional intelligence does not need to perceive himself as something he is not.

In this sense, egocentricity could be a warning sign for people who, paradoxically, suffer from emotional and affective deficiencies or even
some underlying mental disorder. Egocentricity would be, in somewhat metaphorical terms, a flight forward of people who camouflage their insecurity in this type of hyperbolic thoughts and beliefs about their capacities and potentialities in life.

From a social point of view,
egocentricity is understood as the reflection or the consequence of a mercantilized and classist society in the personality of some individuals . The differences between social classes and their lifestyles could generate a constant competition between individuals to achieve a rise in status, which would be a perfect breeding ground for individualism, selfishness, the underestimation of certain moral principles, and also of egocentricity as a characteristic of the personality adapted to this competitive environment in which appearances take precedence over other qualities. Thus, the desire for success in life can be a starting point that, if mismanaged, can lead to the development of problematic and limiting personalities and attitudes.

Selfish people may be able to carry out large projects and enterprises , but at the same time they may have difficulties in establishing deep relationships with other people.

Egolatry and the education received

Nevertheless,
egocentricity is not a trait exclusively focused on obtaining money or power, but it can have diverse motivations . The egomaniacal personality style may have several causes, among them the type of education and upbringing style that the individual has received.

A parenting style that is too permissive and complacent with the child can lead to problems such as
oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), also known as emperor’s syndrome, in which the child defies parental authority and acts capriciously to get what he or she wants. This type of upbringing could lead to a self-centered personality in adulthood.

Recapitulating: social relationships and difficulties

Egocentricity may be a trait that causes serious difficulties in interpersonal relationships , as the individual may present various behaviours and attitudes that generate rejection in other people.

However, in certain contexts, personalities characterized by egocentricity can be socially rewarded; for example, in the case of celebrities who are always looking for new ways to reinvent themselves and to stand out; this would help them to keep their cachet high and continue to receive income and power of influence.

On the other hand, when a person considers himself superior and more valuable than others, he often perceives others as unimportant, useless and expendable. This generates a feeling of rejection in their environment of friends and acquaintances, because few people are willing to tolerate being treated with contempt.

It is important to stress that, although it may be complicated,
the ideal is that egomaniacs can receive professional advice to try to restructure their perception of themselves , which will have a positive impact on their mental health and on the quality and quantity of their personal relationships, allowing them to enjoy a much fuller and happier life.

Bibliographic references:

  • Freud, Sigmund. Complete works . Volume XIV: Works on metapsychology, and other works (1914-1916), “Contribution to the history of the psychoanalytic movement”. Chapter II: Introduction to Narcissism (1914). Buenos Aires/Madrid: Amorrortu, 1979.
  • Lasch, Christopher. The culture of narcissism . Editorial Andrés Bello, 1999.