What does egocentrically mean?
Egocentrically is an adverb describing behavior or thinking that places oneself at the center of attention, concern, or interpretation. Someone who acts egocentrically evaluates events primarily in terms of how they affect them personally, often without genuine awareness of other people's feelings or perspectives. The word derives from the Latin 'ego,' meaning 'I,' combined with 'centric,' from Greek 'kentron,' meaning center — literally, 'I-centered.' It appears most often in psychological writing, where egocentric thinking is studied as a developmental stage, and in everyday criticism of self-absorbed behavior. Its connotations are consistently negative, suggesting not just self-interest but a failure to adopt another's viewpoint. Related forms include the adjective 'egocentric' and the noun 'egocentrism,' which names the underlying disposition rather than the manner of acting.
adverbIn a manner centered on oneself; with excessive regard for one's own interests, needs, or perspective, often at the expense of others.
- In a self-centered manner, regarding oneself as the center of concern or reference.
"He argued the case egocentrically, never once considering how it would affect his colleagues."
"She interpreted the criticism egocentrically, assuming it was all about her."
"Todays often reason egocentrically, struggling to see a situation from another person's point of view."
The word's root 'ego' is Latin for 'I' — so to act egocentrically is literally to place 'I' at the center of every situation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of egocentrically
Egocentrically is formed from 'egocentric,' a term coined in the late 19th century from Latin 'ego' ('I') and Greek 'kentron' ('center'), with the standard adverbial suffix '-ally.' The underlying components trace back through Latin and Greek scholarly vocabulary into modern English psychology, where 'egocentric' was popularized by developmental theorists such as Jean Piaget. Cognates sharing the 'ego-' root include 'egoism,' 'egotism,' and 'egomania.'
Related word forms
How egocentrically is actually used
Formal to neutral register, common in psychology and everyday criticism of behavior. It carries an unambiguously negative connotation.
Easily confused with egocentrically
'Egotistically' implies boastful self-importance and talkativeness about oneself, while 'egocentrically' emphasizes viewing everything from one's own perspective.