decentering

Decentering refers to the process of shifting away from an egocentric or first-person perspective toward considering other viewpoints, aspects, or interpretations. It involves recognizing that thoughts, feelings, or situations can be viewed from multiple angles, not all of which align with one’s own immediate experience. Decentering is used in several fields, including psychology, education, and mindfulness-based approaches to therapy.

In cognitive development, decentering describes a child’s growing ability to consider more than one dimension of a problem. It is contrasted with centration, the tendency to focus on a single salient feature. Through decentering, children can take the perspective of others and understand that different attributes may be relevant to a given task, supporting more flexible thinking.

In psychotherapy and mental health training, decentering denotes the capacity to observe thoughts and emotions as temporary mental events rather than as direct indicators of reality. In mindfulness-based therapies, individuals practice noticing thoughts nonjudgmentally and letting them pass, which can reduce reactivity and improve emotion regulation. Decentering is also linked to cognitive defusion concepts in some therapeutic models and is often cultivated via formal exercises such as mindful observation of internal experiences.

In education and social cognition, decentering supports empathy and perspective-taking, aiding discussions of literature, history, and social issues. It can be developed through reflective practice, perspective-taking tasks, and exposure to diverse viewpoints.