Selfishness facts for kids

Selfishness is when you care more about yourself than about other people. It means your thoughts or actions focus mostly on your own needs. You might not think much about what others need or how they feel.

Selfishness is the opposite of being selfless, which means thinking about others first. It's also a bit different from being self-centred, which is when you see everything from your own point of view. Some experts, like psychologists, believe a little bit of selfishness can be healthy. It can help people stay happy and take care of themselves.

What Is Selfishness?

Selfishness is a way of acting where your own interests come first. It's about putting your needs, wishes, and comfort before anyone else's. This can show up in different ways, from small choices to big decisions.

Selfishness vs. Self-Care

It's important to know the difference between selfishness and self-care. Self-care means taking time to look after your own health and well-being. This helps you be a better friend, family member, or student. Self-care is usually seen as a good thing. Selfishness, however, often means ignoring others' needs completely.

Why Do People Act Selfishly?

People might act selfishly for many reasons. Sometimes, it's about wanting to protect themselves or get what they need. Other times, it might be because they don't understand how their actions affect others. A lack of empathy, which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, can also play a role.

Views on Selfishness

People have thought about selfishness for a long time. Different groups, like philosophers, religious leaders, and economists, have different ideas about it.

Selfishness in Ethics and Morality

In the study of ethics and morality, selfishness is often seen as a negative trait. People usually praise acts of selflessness instead. For example, helping someone without expecting anything in return is seen as good.

• Ancient Greek Views: The famous Greek thinker Aristotle believed it was wrong to only try to gain money for yourself. However, he thought it was good to seek praise you truly deserved. This shows a difference between selfish gain and earning respect.

Selfishness in Religion

Most major religions teach that selfishness is a bad habit. It is often seen as going against the idea of caring for others.

• Christianity: In Christianity, selfishness is linked to pride. Pride is sometimes called the worst of the Seven deadly sins, which are very serious faults.

Selfishness in Modern Economics

In the world of economics, there are many different views on selfishness. Some thinkers believe it can actually help society.

• Bernard Mandeville: He suggested that a country's economic growth might depend on people acting in their own selfish interests. He thought that individual desires could lead to overall benefits.
• Ayn Rand: This writer and philosopher argued that selfishness is a virtue, meaning a good quality. She believed it was the main reason for all human progress and new ideas.

Conclusion

Selfishness is a complex idea with many different meanings. While it's often seen as negative, some people believe a healthy amount of self-concern is important. Understanding selfishness helps us think about how we treat ourselves and others.