Self-focused

Characterized by an excessive preoccupation with one's own thoughts, feelings, needs, and interests, often to the exclusion or detriment of others. This orientation can manifest in a variety of ways, from a heightened sense of self-importance to a lack of empathy and consideration for those around them. The term highlights a tendency to prioritize personal desires and goals above collaborative efforts or the well-being of the group, resulting in behaviors that may be perceived as selfish, egocentric, or narcissistic. Individuals exhibiting this trait often struggle with perspective-taking and may have difficulty recognizing or responding to the needs of others.

Self-focused meaning with examples

• During the group project, Sarah's self-focused approach quickly became frustrating for her teammates. She consistently disregarded their ideas, insisted on having things her way, and took credit for their contributions, leaving them feeling unheard and undervalued. Her actions created tension within the group, undermining their ability to collaborate and achieve their shared objective, and ultimately hindered their ability to work as a team.
• Despite his partner's emotional distress, Mark remained completely self-focused, talking only about his own anxieties and challenges. He failed to offer comfort or support, and instead, he continually steered the conversation back to his own problems. This lack of empathy deeply hurt his partner, creating a sense of emotional isolation and resentment and making their relationship feel very imbalanced and unhealthy.
• The CEO's self-focused leadership style was blamed for the company's declining morale. He consistently made decisions that benefited his own career and financial interests, even when those choices negatively impacted the employees' job security and compensation. His insensitivity caused widespread distrust and dissatisfaction among the staff, leading to a decline in productivity, and high turnover rates for key personnel.
• The young athlete's self-focused dedication consumed his life, and left little time for meaningful connections with friends and family. He prioritized his training schedule over everything else, missing social events and neglecting important relationships to pursue his individual goals and improve his physical condition. Although this approach led to success, his pursuit also left him feeling lonely.
• The author's self-focused narrative style, filled with lengthy descriptions of her own emotional state and experiences, neglected to provide a well-rounded portrayal of the other characters and their relationships with the protagonist. Readers criticized the book, feeling disconnected and finding it difficult to sympathize with anyone but the author's character, making it more difficult to understand their perspective.