Which is worse - Selfish or Self-Centered?

Question

I've always considered selfish to be a a verb meaning that you do things for yourself. Of course, in moderation, selfish can be a good thing. However, self-centered is a trait that to me means you only think of yourself. So, to me it's like actions vs thinking. What do you think?

Answer 1

Selfish:

–adjective
1.devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.
2.characterized by or manifesting concern or care only for oneself: selfish motives.

Self-Centered:

-adjective
1.concerned solely or chiefly with one's own interests, welfare, etc.; engrossed in self; selfish; egotistical.
2.independent, self-sufficient.
3.centered in oneself or itself.
4.Archaic. fixed; unchanging.

There it is. Simply from Dictionary.com.

Self centered is fixed and unchanging. Selfish can be changed and is more tangeable. So if it can be changed it very well could be the lesser of two evils.

But I ask you this; is it better to be self-centered, an unchangeable version of selfish, or is it better to to be selfish, able to change, but not changing anyway even with such knowledge? They both are just as bad as the other in different rights (ways).

So the answer, to me, would be both are of equal evil depending on if the person is selfish enough to stay that way. HOWEVER, if one stays selfish, it's self-induced self-centeredness. The two words henceforth become one and neither is worse, as neither are selfish or self-centered. Just...selfish-centered. So selfish-centered (a new DJism :D ) is the worst. Not selfish or self-centered, but selfish-centered.

Answer 2

Being self -centered is better than being selfish when you think about it- it could be a form of self preservation in a time of crisis- you learn more about yourself. Yet selfishness just hurts everyone...to share yourself fully with someone is awesome especially if you share some of the same character traits and you can't know who you are as a person unless you are a little bit self-centered. Yes I am self centered..I admit it, but I am not selfish I'd give you the last dollar in my pocket if you needed it.

Answer 3

Actually, they are both adjectives - words that describe someone. Someone who is selfish is usually self-centered, but not necessarily. Maybe that goes both ways too. The selfish ones may want things for themselves "selfishly", but not really think of why, that is, they don't center their thoughts on themselves. A self-centered person's world revolves around themselves, and all their thoughts usually reflect this fact, and so as well, their actions.

Either way, I'm not sure that the word "worse" used to differentiate them here is a good one.

Answer 4

well I'm not sure if this is going to be a good answer but both selfishness and being self-centered but the s**t out of me!! i see it all the time since i do have a family member that is both selfish and self-centered.
selfish to me is someone always taking and wanting more but never willing to give in return.
being self-centered is someone who things that they are all good and have to have every ones attention in the room or wherever they go having to make a scene just to get all eyes on them.
so i really think that we all need to be a little selfish at times or we will be walked all over or taken advantage of and trust me im the QUEEN when it comes to be both i get taken advantage of and walked all over even by my past boyfriends.
so in order to prevent that u have to learn to be a little bit selfish but not to the extreme were u never give or do anything for someone else but yourself. and being self-centered well no one needs to feel like they have to fight for everyone in the rooms attention cuz as long as you have some friends they will always be there to give you attention that you seem to be craving.

Answer 5

Wow, this is actually a big question. Often a victim character needs to become selfish in order to regain a sense of him or herself. Then that person needs to become self-centered in order to navigate him or herself through the world, otherwise they are being thrown off by the winds of everyone elses wants and needs.

Perhaps you could look at your meaning of selfish or self-centered; Are you asking the question because you are having a reaction to someone else's strengths. To live in this world - it is difficult to get anywhere substantial if you are not taking care of your Self.

Self is the essence of who you are, and most often this is the best part of you. It is where people become empowered, strong and can achieve amazing things.

Answer 6

I think both are negative adjectives but to me, self-centered and arrogance go hand in hand. So I think being self centered is worse. Also, when you're self centered, you would only do things that are beneficial to yourself. To me selfish just means you don't like to share.

Answer 7

we have no choice when being self-centered - that is our defense mechanism not our trait. everything we do is in relation to self thus self centered. even when protecting our children we are innately protecting our dna.

however selfish to me means that you don't share with others which could defeat our self-center because good will increases your chance of emotional well-being (more productive life), longevity (friends increase life span and no one likes a selfish person), and passing of dna.

selfish is an adjective by the way.

Answer 8

Selfish!

Answer 9

Being selfish to moderate degree is okay.
But to be self-centered is a trait not very becoming to any person.

Answer 10

Self-centered is worse. I've met alot of both types of people and the self-centered ones piss me off.