Keys to reduce egocentrism

Egocentrism is a main characteristic of the childhood stage. The inability to perceive the world from a perspective other than one’s own is common in children. However, when correct emotional development does not occur, this behavior can carry over into adulthood, where it can cause serious inter- and intrapersonal problems.

The thing is, Contrary to what it may seem at first glance, egocentric people are unhappy and feel insecure.. The suffering they cause in their environment with their behaviors is only a reflection of their instability and internal restlessness. It is possible to reverse this situation, but only to the extent that the main person involved becomes aware and decides to make changes.

What are egocentric people like?

Many of us have at some point had the misfortune of encountering a self-centered person. If our contact has been superficial, their presence will have remained in our memory merely as an unpleasant anecdote.

However, For those who establish deep relationships with these individuals, the consequences can be devastating.. Because, if you associate with someone who only looks at themselves, you will end up feeling invisible.

Egocentric people feel like they are the center of the world (and also the periphery). They constantly think about themselves and consider themselves important and special. Their only concern is their own opinions and interests, and they do not hesitate to ignore and belittle the thoughts and feelings of others.

They are despotic, arrogant and manipulative individuals. They appear excessively confident and self-assured. Their personal relationships are based on the benefit they can obtain from them. The egocentric will never show reciprocity, since he only cares about his needs.

These people usually have fantasies of success and power. They believe that they possess unlimited potential that, at any moment, will lead them to the most brilliant success. The cult of self they profess is so high that it can make them completely lacking in empathy.

The reality of egocentrism

For all these reasons, self-centered people appear to others with a mask of security. They appear to have enormous self-esteem and high confidence. They pretend to be independent, self-sufficient, infallible and successful.

But The reality is that great insecurities and shortcomings are hidden behind this veil.. His pose of arrogance and arrogance is a mere overcompensation for his fear that others will discover that they are insufficient. Well this is what they truly think of themselves.

Their self-esteem is fragile, which is why they are hypersensitive to the slightest criticism.. They display their fictional character to achieve the approval that they do not give themselves, and that deep down they feel they do not deserve. They relate through manipulation, control and blackmail, because they do not believe they have what it takes to be loved and accepted in an equal and reciprocal bond.

How to reduce egocentrism?

As we see, egocentrism is a quality that generates suffering both in the egocentric individual and in those close to him. It is possible to reduce or eliminate this attitude and associated behaviors through different interventions.:

It will be necessary to modify the cognitive distortions that the egocentric person has about himself. Adjust your perceptions of importance, greatness and infallibility to reality. To do this, a cognitive restructuring process will have to be carried out, addressing dysfunctional schemas.Work on achieving healthy self-esteem It will help the individual learn to give himself real merit and approval. In this way it will not be necessary to project the fictional character to achieve praise and external recognition. Finally, it will be important develop empathy and the ability to perceive other people’s points of view. The egocentric will have to learn to divert the focus from himself to become more aware of the opinions, feelings and needs of those around him.

Finally, as social beings, we all want and need to truly show ourselves to others, as well as establish intimate and real interpersonal connections. If we hide behind a mask, If we refuse to look at the reality of others, we will be condemning ourselves to live a lonely life, dissatisfied and unreal.

Let’s learn to accept ourselves as we are so we can show ourselves without lies. Let’s allow ourselves to look at others and for them to look at us. Walls protect us, but they also isolate us.

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