Is it true that every human being is self centered?

Question

...and most people know how to hide it and those who don't are called selfish, self-centered, etc...

Answer 1

yeah, its called ego. you over-develop it via pride.

Answer 2

Most folks are, but not all the time. The same people who are selfish one minute are selfless the next.

We may be selfish, but that doesn't mean we are incapable of caring deeply for others. And there's really no telling what or who we're going to care about.

There are the obvious things, like parents who will go without and suffer to protect and nurture their children

But amazingly, people will sacrifice their own lives for ideals and for people they don't know in their wider community (tribe/town/country).

It's all just a part of the big picture of who we are.

Answer 3

The "Id" ego, and super ego. According to Freud is the psyche most primitive to man. It is the innate that starts from the very beginning of our lives that contain the strongest emotions, (fear, sex, hate) , Then the ego is formed from "morals". and life experience. This would make it seem like some people are more selfish than others. When in fact they aren't. That has fascinated me too. Why do newborn babies know how to share right off, when other babies have to be taught over & over, how to share.
I don't nessesarily believe in Freud but this is one of his theories I think are logical.

Answer 4

I think on the base level we are all self centered. However, I have seen many acts of selflessness in my life that transcend any selfishness.
We (mankind) are as whole a very selfish creature, but, we would not have survived without that trait.

My $0.02
Yours; Grumpy

Answer 5

I don't think one can hide selfishness. Not to a great extend. These who are, well, they are, and usually can be recognized! And everyone is to some extend, of course!

ps is selfishness a good or bad characteristic is another question.

Answer 6

Sure. Those who do things for others and are considered generous and stuff do that because they feel it is the right thing to do - it makes them feel good. So in a way, even unselfish gestures are selfish.

Answer 7

sure certainly and it quite is not any evil or incorrect to be self based... it quite is in simple terms organic. in simple terms think of if i did not preserve myself, might I not be burdening my own close to and expensive those with my callous ideas-set or inefficiency? Even in love the place the sweetheart sounds like doing lots for the liked, actually that.... love is a trojan horse that once it bites it makes the definition of self wider to comprise the liked into its fold. regardless of we do for the liked is consequently as stable as and much less effective than doing for terribly own self.

Answer 8

there are 3 parts of the person, ego, id, and super ego i believe. basically you come in this world alone you leave it alone and the one person you can trust the most is yourself. So to a degree I would say that is quite correct.

Answer 9

it is a survival instinct to ensure that the person survives in whatever situation he is in... you do not say animals are selfish or self-centred, do you? humans and animals, we are nearly similar..

Answer 10

I think that most of us remain self centred no matter who or what we are, it is a survival instinc based deep within ourselves.

Answer 11

I can't speak for everybody but I am,then I think about others and to make things clear when I said"I am" that included my kids