selfishness
Quick Summary
Selfishness is an excessive interest in oneself, one's own desires, needs, or interests. It is characterized by a behavior that prioritizes personal gain at the expense of others. Synonyms for selfishness include egoism, narcissism, and self-centeredness.123
This behavior stands in contrast to altruism, generosity, and self-sacrifice, which involve concern for others. A selfish individual may exhibit traits like vanity, pride, and conceit, often focusing conversations on themselves and demonstrating a lack of consideration for the problems of others.123
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animal social behaviorThe ultimate causes of social behavior…sacrifice and the recipient benefits), selfishness (the actor benefits at the expense of the recipient), and spite (the actor hurts the recipient and both pay a cost). Mutualistic associations pose no serious evolutionary difficulty since both individuals derive benefits that exceed what they would achieve on their own. In general,…
Read More…sacrifice and the recipient benefits), selfishness (the actor benefits at the expense of the recipient), and spite (the actor hurts the recipient and both pay a cost). Mutualistic associations pose no serious evolutionary difficulty since both individuals derive benefits that exceed what they would achieve on their own. In general,…
Read More- animal social behaviorThe ultimate causes of social behavior
Selfish behavior occurs when one individual benefits at the expense of another. Examples, unsurprisingly, are common. In birds, females sometimes exhibit egg-dumping behavior or intraspecific brood parasitism (that is, the laying of eggs in nests of other pairs, thus parasitizing their parental care). Even though…
Read MoreSelfish behavior occurs when one individual benefits at the expense of another. Examples, unsurprisingly, are common. In birds, females sometimes exhibit egg-dumping behavior or intraspecific brood parasitism (that is, the laying of eggs in nests of other pairs, thus parasitizing their parental care). Even though…
Read More