egocentered

Egocentered is an adjective describing a focus on the self; it refers to perceiving, interpreting, or prioritizing situations from one’s own point of view. In everyday language it is often used as a synonym of self-centered or egocentric, though some writers reserve egocentered for a more explicit emphasis on the self as the central reference point. It can occur in attitudes, reasoning, and behavior.

In psychology and communication studies, egocentered processing or egocentered bias denotes a tendency to construe information through the lens of one’s own experiences and needs, sometimes compromising consideration of others’ perspectives. Egocentrism is a related term that can describe a developmental stage in which one has difficulty decentering from the self, especially in early childhood; in adults it may reflect limited perspective-taking or egocentric attitudes that impede collaboration or empathy.

Etymology and usage notes: the word combines ego (“I”) with centered. It appears as a variant of egocentric in some dictionaries and is less common in contemporary prose. Related concepts include egocentric bias, self-centeredness, narcissism, and egotism. Example: Her egocentered approach prioritized her own agenda over others’ needs.