Egocentrism

Egocentrism Definition

Egocentrism refers to a state or stage where thought, morality, or perception is entirely focused on the self; in common usage, it often denotes selfishness. Within developmental psychology, particularly as theorised by Jean Piaget, egocentrism describes a specific phase during which children’s thinking is constrained by their limited perspective, meaning they are unable to fully comprehend viewpoints outside of their own immediate experience. This concept has subsequently been widely adopted and deployed within the social sciences to examine how self-focused cognition influences social interaction and moral reasoning.

Origins and Psychological Context

The primary academic context for egocentrism stems from developmental psychology. Piaget posited that this stage represents a specific phase in the development of thought and morality where the individual is unable to fully take the perspective of another person, leading to a self-centred view of the world.

Key Thinkers

The concept has been significantly utilised by major figures in psychology and social science, most notably Jean Piaget, whose work established the developmental framework, and Lawrence Kohlberg, who applied related concepts to the study of moral development.