What does egocentrism literally mean?

Egocentrism literally refers to a self-centeredness in thinking. This concept, often discussed in the context of developmental psychology, especially in relation to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, highlights how individuals, particularly young children, may have difficulty recognizing that others can have differing perspectives, thoughts, and feelings. Instead, their viewpoint is predominantly centered around their own experiences and interpretations of the world around them.

This self-focused way of thinking means that egocentric individuals may not understand or acknowledge the perspectives of others. As people develop, they typically gain the ability to see things from viewpoints other than their own, moving beyond egocentric thought patterns. Thus, the essence of egocentrism lies in this inherent self-focus, which is pivotal in early cognitive development and is contrasted with the ability to understand and appreciate the perspectives of others.