The quality of being concerned only with yourself and not caring about other people's needs or feelings.
From 'selfish,' which combines 'self' (Old English 'self') and the suffix '-ish' (meaning having the quality of), plus the noun-forming suffix '-ness.' The concept became more common in English during the 17th century as individualism grew.
Psychologists call selfishness an evolutionary holdover—our ancestors who prioritized their own survival lived longer—but humans are actually uniquely wired for cooperation, which is why pure selfishness often backfires socially.
Gendered criticism: women labeled selfish for boundary-setting or ambition; men for same behavior labeled assertive. Language patterns reflect unequal moral standards.
Specify behavior rather than character. 'Prioritizing self-interest over group needs' is clearer and gender-neutral vs. 'selfish.'
["self-prioritization","boundary-setting (if positive context)","prioritizing individual need"]
Women's self-advocacy historically pathologized; reclaim boundaries as healthy.
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