2006-10-30 07:35:35 · 10 answers · asked by TW 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Give an example when it is good or bad.
2006-10-30 07:36:18 · update #1
Selfishness is programmed into our makeup and is not a bad thing, but if selfishness is not kept in check it becomes the root of all evil. If you always put the wants and needs of others before your own you become a martyr and everyone who knows you will walk all over you, which will make you a miserable person. On the other hand, if you're always putting yourself first, you get to the point where you don't care about the wants and needs of others, so you end up walking all over them to get what you want. It may get you what you want most of the time, but it'll get lonely because the people around you will eventually catch on and will stay away because they can't depend on you for anything (except to be completely selfish). As for selfishness being the root of all evil, think about it: When people steal, assault others, rape women, or kill people, at the very root of it why do they do it? BECAUSE IT'S WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO, and they are so selfish that they believe they have the God-given right to do whatever they want, regardless of the law, regardless of what effect it may have on others, if they want it then by golly they have the right to go out and take it, and Heaven help anyone who gets in the way of WHAT THEY WANT.
2006-10-30 07:43:41 · answer #1 · answered by sarge927 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes being selfish can get a person far in life, but when they get there it is just an empty place. For instance, take a person who over does with their personal appearence. They define theirself by how they look. Their insecurity is being covered by artifical things.For a period of years this person in their own selfish way can present themself as attractive and together. That same person might sacrfice their relationships in order to get a good education so that they can earn a lot of money. They work so hard to appear sucessful and actual are sucessful in making a great deal of money. But, because they are completly dependent on their own selfish goals that makes them appear to be sucessful. Their motives in everything is self serving. They may appear very sucessful, but they can't keep a relationship and they are artifically sucessful.
This selfish person can only keep up appearences for so long before they lose everything they have worked for. They get older and their body and mind gets weak and they can't keep their selfish self up to the standards that they were able to maintain when they were younger.
Also "getting far in life" is very subjective. We all have a different definition of that.
2006-10-30 07:46:16 · answer #2 · answered by clcalifornia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think Yes! Now you may wonder how can such a bad thing lead you far in life? It does lead you very very far. When we are selfish we are caring for ourselves, its all about me, its ok. Because in being selfish we understand our needs and wants and we are in touch with our feelings. This will surely help us to understand others better, If by being selfish you learnt that saving money is hard, then you will understand how hard it is for others to spend their. We respect others feelings and value them. To understand the other we have to understand us first.
When we learn this and become aware we understand others better, we will learn respect because we learnt how it feels to be respected. Same way with love, when we love ourselves we know how to love others., When we know what is hunger we know how hunger affects others. It gives an opportunity for wisdom and growth.
This surely takes us far in life!
2006-10-30 08:02:00 · answer #3 · answered by thachu5 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Can one aquire fame, forture and pleasures by being selfish? Well, sadly, yes. Will this behavior ever catch up to this person? Maybe, maybe not.
I myself choose to not be a selfish person. I feel joy in helping others. I believe life is about more then just me and my wants.
2006-10-30 08:07:43 · answer #4 · answered by PrimeTime 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Selfish people will get further in life. They focus more on themselves and think of helping others as a distraction! When you don't stop to help others you could achieve your goals faster.
But eventually it will catch up to them, when they are old and everyone hates them!
2006-10-30 07:38:42 · answer #5 · answered by April M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may do, however being of that particular nature will cause others to suffer in your quest to get to where you want, thus forsaking others on your journey to the top is not beneficial to others that you climb over to become that person of success in life.
People who are selfish are a seperate breed of people that do not really have the basic enjoyment of being appreciated by others for who they really are.
2006-10-30 08:09:34 · answer #6 · answered by head rush 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nicely in the beginning supply up thinking approximately it, in case you prefer to volunteer in simple terms because you prefer to offer up being egocentric then isn't that assisting on your guy or woman earnings in return making the act egocentric? My advice is think of of it in a distinctive way, relatively of combating the selfishness how approximately beginning friendliness, think of of how you be nicer like placing out the door for somebody relatively of waiting for somebody else to open it stuff like that. start up gradual and good away you would be a distinctive individual.
2016-10-21 00:23:32 · answer #7 · answered by genthner 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can always get a person further in the material world. But morally and spiritually it sets them back further and further.
2006-10-30 07:58:35 · answer #8 · answered by Phaylynn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO look at Scrooge.
2006-10-30 07:43:10 · answer #9 · answered by shorte716 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what do you think? Is this a homework question??
2006-10-30 07:38:36 · answer #10 · answered by katie-bug 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋