Egocentric bias, also known as self-centredness bias, is a psychological concept that influences our perception and evaluation of events and information. This phenomenon describes the tendency to view the world from our own perspective, considering our own experiences, opinions and feelings as authoritative and representative of others. In other words, we tend to use ourselves as a reference point and assume that others think or feel similarly to us.
This bias can occur in various areas of life, from social interaction to decision-making. A common example is the assumption that what is important to ourselves must also be important to others. This can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts, especially if we don't take into account that people can have different backgrounds, values and priorities.
In social situations, egocentric bias can lead us to draw false conclusions about other people's intentions and feelings. We interpret their actions based on our own assumptions and project our own feelings onto them. This can lead to communication problems and interpersonal conflicts.
In the area of decision-making, egocentric bias can lead us to overvalue our own preferences and biases and neglect other possible options. We may tend to make decisions that serve our own interests without sufficiently considering how they might affect others.
It is important to emphasise that egocentric bias is not necessarily a conscious action. It often happens on an unconscious level, as it can be difficult to recognise and challenge our own thought patterns and assumptions. Nevertheless, being aware of this bias can help us to be more conscious and empathetic in social interactions and decision-making processes.
In psychology, intensive research is being conducted into how the egocentric bias works and how it can be minimised. One way to reduce its effects is to realise that other people may have different perspectives and needs. This requires empathy and the ability to actively listen and put oneself in other people's shoes.
Overall, egocentric bias is an interesting phenomenon that reminds us how our own perceptions influence the way we understand the world. By being aware of its existence and consciously trying to broaden our perspective, we can become more effective communicators and decision makers.